Music therapy in frontal temporal dementia: a case report

Raglio,A., Bellandi, D., Baiardi, P., Gianotti, M., Ubezio, M.C., and Granieri, E. (2012) “Music therapy in frontal temporal dementia: a case report”. JAGS, 60 (8), 1578-1579.

ABSTRACT: Music therapy (MT) is a widespread nonpharmacological approach in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Active MT is an important way to communicate with persons with dementia in the severe stages of the disease. MT has psychological and neuroscientific bases. The sonorous-music relationship allows the person to express and modulate or regulate her or his emotions and behaviors. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) generally presents with several behavioral disturbances (e.g., agitation, irritability, depression, disinhibition) but also difficulties in emotional perception and regulation due to brain lesions. Nevertheless, the person with FTD shows creative aspects and sensibility to the musical patterns. This MT intervention aimed to reduce BPSD in one person with FTD that was difficult to manage in an Alzheimer’s unit of a nursing home in northern Italy.