PHYSICAL EXERCISE WITH MUSIC ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN DEMENTIA: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF TRIALS

Abstract

The use of music as a cognitive stimulation could potentiate positive effects of physical exercise in older people with dementia and facilitate collaboration and interaction between this population, family and professionals. Objective: to analyze the effects of physical exercise associated with music on clinical outcomes in older people with dementia. Methods: An electronic search without any limitation of year of publication was done in Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases and lists of references of the included articles. Clinical trials involving older people with dementia, physical exercise associated with music (concomitant or not) and in English, Portuguese or Spanish language were included. Results: From 1169 studies initially identified, 10 articles were included in this review. Of these, three articles were randomized clinical trials. The studies presented a wide variation of sample, type of music and physical exercise and tests, but all studies worked with institutionalized older people and approached physical exercise concomitant to the music. Regarding immediate effects, three studies reported improvements in behavioral/social factors. Positive short-term effects were found in participation/interaction during the intervention and cognitive and behavioral/social aspects. Regarding long-term effects, two studies verified good participation during the intervention. Conclusions: The music therapy associated with physical exercise is an easy and simple resource, with clinical benefits in older people with dementia. More studies with methodological quality are needed to understand better the effects of this combined intervention in different phases of dementia.