Global music approach to persons with dementia: evidence and practice

Figures & data

Table 1 Main characteristics of interventions in the global music approach in dementia (GMA-D)

Type of intervention	Professionals/caregivers	Content	Setting/context	Stage of disease	Duration and frequency of interventions	Aims
Active music therapy – psychological approach (AMT-PA) (individual or small group sessions, two to three PWD)	Trained music therapist	Musical improvisation and/or structured music	Therapeutic setting/music therapy room	Mild to severe dementia (CDR 1–4)	Twice a week for at least 15 sessions, 30 min/session	Reduction of BPSD and related complications, emotional and behavioral regulation, increase of communication/relationship
Active music therapy – rehabilitative approach (AMT-RA) (individual or small group sessions, two to three PWD)	Trained music therapist	Music exercises	Therapeutic setting/music therapy room	Mild to moderate dementia (CDR 1–2)	Two–three times a week for at least 15 sessions, 30 min/session (cycles of sessions)	Improvement of cognitive functions (specifically memory, attention, language, executive functions) and motor and sensory functions
Active music therapy with family caregivers (AMT-FC) (couple PWD–family caregiver and music therapist)	Trained music therapist	Musical improvisation and/or structured music	Therapeutic setting/music therapy room	Moderate to severe dementia (CDR 2–4)	Twice a week for at least 12 sessions, 30 min/session (cycles of sessions)	Reduction of stress and anxiety condition in family caregivers; reduction of BPSD in PWD; improvement of communication and quality of life in PWD and family caregivers
Music-based interventions (MBI) (middle group sessions, six to eight PWD)	Musician or worker with musical expertise	Structured musical initiatives: rhythmic use of instruments, singing, movement associated to music, and listening to music (classical music, soothing music, evocative music)	Spacious room	Mild to moderate dementia (CDR 1–2)	Weekly/biweekly, cycles of sessions (eight to ten), 45–60 min/session	Well-being, improvement of mood and motivation, promotion of socialization, global motor and cognitive stimulation
Caregiver singing (CS) (individual sessions)	Caregivers formal or informal	Caregiver singing (familiar songs or improvised melodies to or together with PWD)	Personal care (ie, toilet, bathing, dressing, assisted deambulation)	Moderate to severe dementia (CDR 2–4)	Daily	Improvement of communication and relationship; reduction of BPSD during daily activities; improvement of mood; promotion of positive emotional context
Individualized listening to music (ILM) (individual sessions)	Music therapist (music selection), caregivers (music administration)	Listening to preferred music	Comfortable room	Mild to severe dementia (CDR 1–4)	Daily, 30 min/session, 4 weeks or more	BPSD reduction; cognitive stimulation
Background music (BM) (group sessions)	Music therapist (music selection), caregivers (music administration)	Listening to music (different kind of music, mainly without text)	Living spaces	Mild to severe dementia (CDR 1–4)	Daily	Activation or relaxation, increase of well-being; improvement of person’s adaptation to the environment

Abbreviations: PWD, persons with dementia; CDR, clinical dementia rating; BPSD, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.