Name:Arijit Bhattacharya

School/Affiliation:Ashoka University and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Co-Authors:S Sandeep Kumar, Faheem Arshad, Manon Grube, Suvarna Alladi

Virtual or In-person:Virtual

Abstract:

Introduction:
Recent advancement in individualized music-based interventions has demonstrated to have positive effects on the overall quality of life in persons living with dementia. Likewise, music-based intervention in India has made great progress in recent years whereby it remains of crucial importance to understand the feasibility and short- and long-term benefits of the individualized music and memory program specifically for the people living with dementia in India. The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate the feasibility of an individualized music program for the people living with dementia in India.

Method:
-Adapted and Modified of the MUSIC & MEMORY® questionnaires
-Cognitive assessments for recruited dementia patients (n = 14)
-Prepared personalized playlist
-Weekly and a final 3 month telephonic follow-up (n=7)
-The present study is on-going

Results:
-The patients are spending their leisure time listening to music suggested in the playlist.
-Most of the patients showed reduced agitation, restlessness, sadness while listening to the music
-Few patients (1 out of 7) reported to have experienced no explicit emotional response while listening to the music, but to feel more relaxed during the listening.

Discussion:
The Music and Memory program has shown a positive impact on the Indian patient’s life as well as caregiver’s. Patients' agitation and restlessness has reduced, which has supported the previous research work on Music and Memory in the USA population. Although the study is still ongoing, the reports from the caregiver’s and patients suggest that the individualized music program is feasible and useful in Indian populations with dementia.