Self-regulated music stimulation for persons with Alzheimer's disease: impact assessment and social validation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact and the social rating of an active music condition (in which 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease regulated their music input) vs. a passive music condition. METHOD: In the active condition, the patients used a simple hand response and a microswitch to activate music stimulation periods. In the passive condition, music stimulation was prearranged and continued through the sessions. The active and passive stimulation sessions were preceded and followed by control (non-stimulation) sessions. RESULTS: The active condition sessions showed an increase in the patients' indices of positive participation (e.g., singing or music-related movements, and smiles) similar to that observed in the passive condition sessions. Social raters (140 psychology students) favored the active condition on a six-item questionnaire dealing, among others, with conditions' suitability, respect of patients' dignity and independence, and practicality. CONCLUSION: An active music stimulation condition can be viable, effective, and socially preferable.

Persons with Alzheimer's disease make phone calls independently using a computer-aided telephone system.

This study assessed whether four patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could make independent phone calls via a computer-aided telephone system. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. All participants started with baseline during which the telephone system was not available, and continued with intervention in which such system was used. It involved a net-book computer provided with specific software, a global system for mobile communication modem (GSM), a microswitch, and photos of the persons available for the phone calls. All participants learned to use the system and made phone calls independently to a variety of partners such as family members, friends and staff personnel. The positive implications of the system were discussed in relation to previous data in this area and the possibility of helping persons with Alzheimer's disease restore an important, instrumental daily ability and engage in communication with distant partners.