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Diseases in old age and alternative treatments: using music in

treating psychosomatic diseases in the elderly 

Kleberson Calanca

kleberson@andrews.edu

Population aging is one of the most significant trends of the twenty-first century.

It has important and far-reaching implications for all areas of society. According to the

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) website, around the world every second two

people celebrate their sixtieth birthday – in an annual total, of nearly 58 million 60-year-

old-birthday celebrations. One in nine people in the world is 60 years of age or older,

and it is estimated to grow to 1 in 5 by 2050. The Bible says: “The days of our years are

threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is

their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

This three-thousand-year canticle confirms that old age is an long standing challenge.

Despite remarkable advances in medicine, some aspects of this stage of life still cause

"fatigue and afflictions". However, although elders have to face serious challenges such

as depression, pain, and dementia, recent research in music therapy shows that these

problems can be overcome (or relieved) with the use of music.

According to the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 24% of seniors

in America are depressed, in China the number gets to be even higher: 35%. When it

comes to quality of life, these numbers are worrying (Chan et al .). Depression is not just

a passing sadness in the face of an adverse unpleasant fact. The person has a deep and

abiding sadness, accompanied by discouragement, apathy, inability to enjoy the

pleasures of life. No interest in daily activities, do not sleep well, have no appetite often

have vague complaints like fatigue, pain in the back or head. Appear "bad" thoughts, as

ideas of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness; in severe cases may experience suicidal

thoughts. Antidepressants that act on neurotransmitters allow a recovery of the

chemical balance of the brain, with improvement in symptoms of depression. This

recovery takes a few weeks, during which the family support is also key. However, the

use of medications in curing depression is also associated with side effects that can be

mild body aches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and tingling sensation of the body.

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Another common problem is chronic pain affecting 50% of this age range and

80% of nursing home residents (Grashorn et al .). The pain may be associated with

negative images, such as prolonged suffering, psychiatric disorders, and lack of

treatment and abuse of medications. This is becoming a problem for the individual, the

family and society as it directs and limits the conditions and behavior of the one who

experiences, increasing morbidity. Chronic pain is a limiting factor of features increases

the excitement, the risk of emotional stress and mortality, affecting body, or regions,

and limiting physical functioning of the elderly subjects. Furthermore, elderly people

with dementia tend to have a more aggressive behavior, causing problems with family

and nursing staff.

Therefore, how is it possible to alleviate the problems arising from old age to

alternative treatments that are both effective and safe? According to the Journal of the

American Geriatrics Society, “in recent years, more attention has been given to the

effectiveness of nonpharmacological approaches in dementia care, such as music

therapy” (Vink et al. 393). 

Bruscia (1998) defines music therapy as “a systematic process of intervent ion

wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using musical experiences and

the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change” (Hodges and 

Sebald 284). The idea of applying music therapy in the treatment of depression, pain

and dementia possibly emerged from the observation of the ability that music has to

calm down and relax for anyone who enjoys. Although we do not know exactly by what

mechanisms it works, music therapy has been widely used in the prevention and

treatment of depressive people, supported by several studies that prove that it can bring

many benefits to these individuals.

The researchers discovered that “Residents receiving music therapy showed

significantly greater reductions in neuropsychiatric symptoms from the start to the end

of the treatment than those receiving recreational activities” (Vink et al . 393). The

results showed that after group music intervention, the experimental group presented

fewer agitated behaviors at the 6th and 12th sessions and at 1 month after cessation of

the intervention. This study confirms that patients with dementia benefit from

participating in music interventions.

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In conclusion, it is relevant to consider the need to improve the elderly's quality

of life. Although the elderly age comes with some fatigue and hardships, there are

creative outlets available to us so that we may promote health and obtain a better

quality of life. Recent research shows that alternative treatments such as music therapy

can bring positive results without the dependence of psychotherapeutic drugs. For this

very reason, several studies have shown music can be an essential tool in helping elder

people to ameliorate their mental and physical health. Therefore, not only it is necessary

to expand the research benefits that music therapy can bring to that clientele but also

apply them in the elderly to have a healthy, lively and artistic life.

Works Cited

Chan, M. F., E. A. Chan, E. Mok, & F. Y. Kwan Tse. “Effect of music on depression levels

and physiological responses in community-based older adults”. International

 Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 2009: 285-294. Print.

Grashorn W, C. Sprenger, K. Forkmann, N. Wrobel, U. Bingel. “Age-Dependent Decline

of Endogenous Pain Control: Exploring the Effect of Expectation and Depression.”

PLoS ONE . Sep. 2013: 1-7. Print.

Hodges, Donald A., and David C. Sebald. Music in the human experience: an introduction

to music psychology . New York: Routledge, 2011. Print.

Lin, Y., H. Chu, C. Yang, C. Chen, S. Chen, H. Chang, & ... K. Chou. “Effectiveness of group

music intervention against agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia.” 

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry . 2011: 670-678. Print.

Vink, A. C., Zuidersma, M., Boersma, F., Jonge, P., Zuidema, S. U., & Slaets, J. P. (2014).

“Effect of Music Therapy Versus Recreational Activities on Neuropsychiatric

Symptoms in Elderly Adults with Dementia: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled

Trial.” Journal of The American Geriatrics Society . Feb. 2014: 392-393. Print.