Preserved Musical Instrument Playing in Dementia

2019 ◽  
pp. 138-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amee Baird ◽  
William Forde Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Musical Instrument ◽  
Alzheimer’S Dementia ◽  
The Self ◽  
Autobiographical Memories ◽  
Unique Form ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Severe Stage

The ability to play a musical instrument can remain in people with dementia, despite their cognitive impairment in other non-music domains. Case studies of people with Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD) or Behavioural variant Frontotemporal dementia (Bv-FTD) have reported preserved musical instrument playing even in the severe stage and, in some cases, the ability to learn a musical instrument after the onset of dementia. We propose that playing a musical instrument allows a unique form of access to two crucial domains, memory and the self. It enables the expression of preserved forms of memory, namely procedural, semantic, and episodic, including autobiographical memories. In doing so, it can provide access to one’s past and continuing self and can be considered a form of self-preservation and expression in musicians with dementia. Four new cases of preserved musical instrument playing in people with AD and Bv-FTD are described to illustrate our proposal.

The Validity of the Norwegian Version of the Cognitive Function Instrument

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Michelet ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Geir Selbæk ◽  
Anne Lund ◽  
Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
The Self ◽  
Norwegian Version ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
Proxy Version

Background/Aims: A timely diagnosis of dementia is important, and the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI) is a newly developed instrument to screen for cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and internal consistency of the Norwegian version of the CFI. Methods: We included 265 participants with dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), and a reference group without subjective or assessed cognitive decline. The participants and their relatives answered the self- and proxy-rated versions of the CFI. Results: The Norwegian CFI had power to discriminate between people with dementia and with MCI, SCI, and the reference group. The proxy version had better power than the self-rated version in our participants (area under the curve [AUC] proxy-rated varying from 0.79 to 0.99, AUC self-rated varying from 0.56 to 0.85). Conclusion: The Norwegian CFI was found to be a useful, valid, and robust instrument.

scholarly journals “The Dichotic Digit Test” as an Index Indicator for Hearing Problem in Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattawan Utoomprurkporn ◽  
Chris J.D. Hardy ◽  
Joshua Stott ◽  
Sergi G. Costafreda ◽  
Jason Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Ear Advantage ◽  
Right Ear Advantage ◽  
Dementia Onset

Abstract Background Patients with dementia commonly have problems processing speech in the presence of competing background speech or noise. This difficulty can be present from the very early stages of dementia, and may be a preclinical feature of Alzheimer's disease. Purpose This study investigates whether people with dementia perform worse on the dichotic digit test (DDT), an experimental probe of speech processing in the presence of competing speech, and whether test performance may predict dementia onset. Research Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data Collection and Analysis A literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Psycinfo. We included (1) studies that included people with a diagnosis of dementia and a healthy control group with no cognitive impairment; (2) studies that reported results from a DDT in a free-recall response task; and (3) studies that had the dichotic digit mean correct percentage score or right-ear advantage, as outcome measurements. Results People with dementia had a lower DDT total score, with a pooled mean difference of 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.2–15.9). Patients with dementia had an increased right-ear advantage relative to controls with a pooled difference of 24.4% (95% CI: 21.8–27.0). Conclusion The DDT total scores are lower and the right-ear advantage increased in cognitively impaired versus normal control participants. The findings also suggest that the reduction of dichotic digit total score and increase of right-ear advantage progress as cognitive impairment increases. Whether abnormalities in dichotic digit scores could predict subsequent dementia onset should be examined in further longitudinal studies.

scholarly journals The Content of Nostalgic Memories Among People Living with Dementia

2021 ◽  
pp. 009141502110241
Author(s):  
Sanda Ismail ◽  
Emily Dodd ◽  
Gary Christopher ◽  
Tim Wildschut ◽  
Constantine Sedikides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Autobiographical Memories ◽  
Affective Content

Although dementia may affect the reliability of autobiographical memories, the psychological properties of nostalgic memories may be preserved. We compared the content of nostalgic ( n = 36) and ordinary ( n = 31) narratives of 67 participants living with dementia. Narratives were rated according to their self-oriented, social, and existential properties, as well as their affective content. Social properties and affective content were assessed using a linguistic word count procedure. Compared to the ordinary narratives described in the control condition, nostalgic narratives described a typical events, expressed more positive affect, and had more expressions of self-esteem and self-continuity. They were also rated higher on companionship, connectedness and the closeness of relationships, and reflected life as being meaningful. Despite their cognitive impairment, people living with dementia experience nostalgia in similar ways to cognitively healthy adults, with their nostalgic narratives containing self-oriented, social, and existential properties.

The effect of a lollipop on vocally disruptive behavior in a patient with frontotemporal dementia: a case-study

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2023-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Fick ◽  
J. P. van der Borgh ◽  
S. Jansen ◽  
R. T. C. M. Koopmans
Keyword(s):  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Disruptive Behavior ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
People With Dementia

ABSTRACTA problematic and disturbing behavior which can develop in people with dementia, is vocally disruptive behavior (VDB). To date, the study of VDB is underdeveloped and with only a limited knowledge base. Medications commonly used in VDB have limited benefits and specific risks in patients with dementia. This report details the case of a patient with frontotemporal dementia with VDB, which responded very well by providing a lollipop. Subsequently, we pose theory-based hypotheses in order to try to explain the beneficial effect of this intervention. This may contribute to a better understanding of VDB and possible treatment strategies.

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