Use of Music Therapy in Dementia

Running head: ORAL PRESENTATION
Use of music therapy in Dementia
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:
Part :B

Use of music therapy in Dementia
Patient background:
During my clinical placement in Concord hospital, mental health unit, and my PEP subject is the
use of music therapy in Dementia. Within a few days of my placement at the mental health unit, I
encountered an old patient named Mr John (pseudonym). He was 65 years of old, male and a resident of
Sydney Australia. His spouse was along with the patient during admission and I had a discussion with
his wife to get more details about the patient. As per his wife, he was a normal person some seven years
back when he retired from the job. He developed mental illness slowly and his present condition
compelled her to bring him to the hospital for treatment. It was observed that, he has been suffering from
memory loss and other complication such as, problem in reasoning solving skill, communication skill,
organizing things and planning. When he is submitted to hospital, he seems to be extremely angry. In
hospital to evaluate his mental wellbeing, doctor has conducted a variety of tests such as evaluation of
memory, language, visual perception, attention, problem-solving, movement, senses, balance and
reflexes. From the evaluation, it is stated that patient is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The patient
also has a deficiency of vitamin B.
2.1 Dementia
Dementia is an irreversible, progressive disease which affects structures of the brain.
Hippocampus which is the part of the central nervous system allows us to remember things (Dr. Ananya
Mandal, 2013). The prevalence rate of dementia is maximum in case of older adults. One of the most
common type of dementia that is observed is Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, short-term
memory loss is observed, because of changes in the structure of the brain (Murray, Graff-Radford, and
Dickson, 2011). The other types of dementia are, Vascular disease and Frontotemporal disease. It can
affect the personality and behavior of a person (Alzheimer's Society, 2013).

2.2. Causes of dementia
Dementia can be due to the hereditary problem, and it takes years for the condition to progress
much further, but if the disease happens to be diagnosed at initial stages, it is easier to control (Norman,
2012). The other factors which is responsible for causing Alzheimer's disease is the lifestyle and the
environmental factors. Other than these, there are other several factors responsible for dementia. In case
of Alzheimer's disease, the disease begins in the limbic system. When cholinergic neurons are lost or
damaged, pathways to and from the limbic system begin to collapse (WebMD, 2013). This in turn
reduces the size of the brain slowly. The damage due to Alzheimer is irreversible, affecting the function
of the brain and leading to a failure to remember, to communicate, and to move over some time.
2.3 Current treatment in dementia
Instead of maximum prevalence rate of dementia, no drug can cure dementia and eliminate the
disease in whole. Hence, in order to treat dementia, alternative approaches are used such as music
therapy and robotic therapy. Music therapy is useful in controlling the adverse effects of the Alzheimer's
disease. Music therapy has come a long way to improve communication of the patient with the help of
spoken language or Music. In robotic pet therapy, the robots are used to treat the patient.
Chosen intervention for dementia.
2.4 Music therapy
2.4 Music therapy
Music therapy is a complementary medicine technique which uses Music skillfully prescribed by
qualified therapists. Music therapy is being used since ancient days and is applied for healing mental
tension (Norman, 2012). Music therapy now-a-days commonly used in the treatment of patient suffering
from Alzheimer disease. By observing the mental condition of the Mr. John, I have chosen music
therapy as an intervention to manage dementia. I have used this therapy not only to cure mental health