P4–393: Music therapy with moderate Alzheimer's disease in a long‐term care center

Music therapy is a potential non-pharmacological treatment for behavioral and psychologic symptoms (BPSD) of dementia., However, although some studies have found it to be helpful, studies demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach are lacking. The purpose of this study was to reflect about the effects of the music therapy with moderate Alzheimer's disease. This case-control study was carried out by music therapists in four long-term care center. The participants were 82 patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease (CDR=2.0 or 3.0) assigned randomly to a music therapy group and a control group. 120 participant with dementia were randomized to a sequence of 12 weeks of music therapy. The session of music therapy has four music activity types-rhythm playing with Korean instrument, exercising with music, singing of old Korean pop and conversational session with the special songs and singer. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of music therapy on agitation and to explore its effect on psychotropic medication and caregiver burden. The study showed a significant reduction in activity disturbances in the music therapy group during a 12-week period measured with Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). Agitation disruptiveness increased during standard care and decreased during music therapy. Short Zarit Burden Inventory(S-ZBI) and the prescription of antipsychotics decreased significantly more often during music therapy than during stand care. Music therapy is a safe and effective method for treating agitation in moderate AD and also a reduction for caregiver burden in long-term care center.