Musical activities as a therapeutic intervention for depression and cognitive function in institutionalized older adults

Background: Music offers a non-invasive, non-pharmacological approach to addressing psychological symptoms in the elderly. Culturally sensitive interventions effectively enhance cognitive function and mental health in older adults. Objectives: This study examined the effects of group activities through musical stimulation on the index of symptomatology for depression and cognitive impairment in a group of institutionalized elderly people. Methods: The research was carried out in 3 phases: 1) Pre-Intervention, in which 28 were institutionalized elderly of both sexes; survey of socio-demographic data of the sample; baseline establishment for cognitive impairment and depression from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); 2) Intervention, consisting of 24 sessions group activities of musical stimulation (1 session per week) with duration of 60 minutes for session. 3) Evaluation, with the objective of defining the impact of the activities through the application of the MMSE and GDS. Results: Of the 28 subjects initially selected, 26 completed the intervention program. The results of the binomial test were significant for the proportions of the elderly who reduced the symptoms of depression, considering the initial and final results of the GDS30 (p <0.001), as well as the reduction of levels of cognitive decline, considering the initial and final results obtained using the MMSE (p <0.001). These results indicate that the intervention performed significantly reduced the depression and significantly improved the cognition of the institutionalized elderly in the study. Conclusion: The results suggest group activities with the use of musical stimulation can be applied as a therapeutic and preventive resource to depression and cognitive decline in institutionalized elderly. Keywords: Aging, Institutionalization, Depression, Cognitive impairment, Music.