A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Differing Types and Difficulty of Music Activities in Programming for Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three different types of music activities (movement, rhythm, and singing) presented at two levels of difficulty (high demand and low demand) for persons at three stages of cognitive functioning (high, medium, and low) as a result of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Trained observers, using a time sampiing tool, documented the quality of participation of 51 persons with ADRD during 12 weeks of music therapy group sessions in 5 different treatment settings. Quality of participation was documented using the following five categories: high response, low response, passive Involvement, passive disruption, and active disruption. Participants at all three stages of cognitive functioning showed a significantly greater amount of high response during movement activities than during singing activities. A significantly greater amount of passivity occurred during singing activities than during movement activities. Participants were more purposefully involved in rhythm and singing activities when those activities were presented at lower levels of demand. Disruptive behaviors occurred less than 10% of the time but were more frequently observed among those persons in the group with the most cognitive dysfunction.