Music therapy for reducing elderly depression who are kept in nursing homes

Music therapy for reducing elderly depression who are kept in nursing homes
Tanaz Houshmandi,¹ Kimia Heydari,^2,*
1. Farzanegan Amin1
2. Farzanegan Amin 1
Introduction: The elderly usually get depressed because of relocation of life, being away from their children and relatives and also lack of pleasure and enough attention and this depression increase the risk of death from other disease that the elderly have. On the other hand depend on recent world research, music decrease undesirable feelings like anger, sadness and stress which are symptoms of depression. Excitement, mood, vision and emotion are influenced by the music therapy process. Therefore studying the impact of music on the elderly can present a solution that prevent the progress of depression.
Methods: Since most elderly are kept in nursing homes have depression because of being away from their children and relocation of life, this research investigates the effect of music on depression of these kind of elderly. In this case study, first the two important parameters "heart beat" and "blood pressure" which are affected directly by depression measured. All cases in this study have a high level of consciousness and they don`t have Alzheimer.In the second step all of them listen to a Mozart music which is played by a headphone for them and after that for the second time the "blood pressure" and "heart beat" measured. The duration of music is the same for all of them. Then according to recorded data, we plot a graph for the two variables, "blood pressure" and "heart beat", and then analyse the data.
Results: The study was conducted on 14 elderly (6 women and 7 men). After comparing "heart beat" and "blood pressure" before and after listening to music, the increase in both of them was clear. 93% of elderly show the increase in their "heart beat" and "blood pressure" and only one of the elderly has a decrease in these two parameters. After 10 or 15 minutes, the "heart beat" and "blood pressure" again return to pre-test mode but all of the elderly declare that they feel happier than before the test.
Conclusion: Music affects the depressed human mind and it also harmonizes the mind and body and improve the quality of life. Listening to music causes the neurotransmitter Serotonin and Dopamine to be release more quickly , these two neurotransmitter have a huge impact on reducing depression. Also recent study about depression show that depression may rise because of low blood pressure and also with the decrease in the severity of the blood supply to the heart , the severity of depression increase . The rhythm of music also increase Serotonin , a neurotransmitter which decrease over years. This neurotransmitter continues to transmit nerve pulses and maintain happiness. Lack of Serotonin is one of the factors of depression. Serotonin increase the heart beat and blood pressure and by releasing of Histamine. Music also release Dopamine, neurotransmitter that affect nucleus accumbens. This area is the center of pleasure and regard and play a role in addiction. Dopamine also increase the blood pressure and it`s an cardiac stimulator which increase cardiac output and contractile power with a positive chronotropic and inotropic effect on the myocardium. An important point is that too much increase in blood pressure is dangerous for elderly but Serotonin can decrease the danger of heart diseases . Since we are increase of blood pressure and heart beat after listening to music and the affects of the Serotonin and Dopamine on this increase , we can declare that music can cure depression to some extent. Play ,music for some hours in nursing homes for a while can improve depression and make elderly happier and feel better. Music have a huge effect on human body and recognizing these effects can help us to find some ways for treating some diseases , like depression that is an important problem for all people specially elderly people. At the end thanks to all the elderly and those who help us.
Keywords: Music therapy, Depression, Elderly , Blood pressure, Heart beat