Possibility of Subjective Quality of Life Improvement during Individual Music Intervention in Elderly People with Severe Dementia: The Pilot Study

Quality of Life (QOL) is a worldwide issue resulting from a sudden increase in dementia and is intensified by increasing severity consequent to decreasing cognitive function. Music therapy could potentially stimulate cognitive function people with dementia. However, relatively few studies have investigated QOL during music intervention. Therefore, we investigated the effects during an interactive music intervention on subjective QOL, as well as evaluation methods in elderly people with severe dementia. We performed behavioral analyses during group leisure activities in the weeks before and after interactive music intervention (once weekly for 5 weeks) using “music with a special personal meaning”. The participants were 3 elderly people with severe dementia. We measured emotional states and spontaneity to represent subjective QOL measurement, and combined a single-subject reversal design (A-B-A) with a multiple baseline design among the participants. Compared with the ratio during the participants' leisure activities, their average “sustained attention” activity ratio during music intervention dramatically increased. Moreover, the average ratio of post-intervention during leisure activities was higher than one of preintervention. Furthermore, the average “fun”, “satisfaction”, and “spontaneous speech” activity ratios during music intervention also increased, comparing with leisure activities. Interactive intervention involving music with a special personal meaning activates attentional functions and awakens positive emotions in elderly people with severe dementia, suggesting a subjective QOL improvement. The behavioral analysis evaluation method used herein requires an analytical precision and limitation of dependent variables; however, it is an effective way to understand people with severe dementia and communication issues.