MUSIC THERAPY INTERVENTION IN THE SHORT-TERM MEMORY OF ELDERLY WITHOUT COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Abstract

The elderly frequently adopt behaviors to counteract the effects of memory impairment, however, they do not always show efficacy. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of music therapy on the short-term memory of the elderly. It was a quasiexperimental study, pre and post-intervention measurement, 33 elderly people without cognitive impairment valued with a word list from CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Record of Alzheimer's Disease), integrated into two groups. Music therapy was used in the experimental group and recreational activities in the control group for 12 weeks. Music therapy favored the memory of the elderly in the experimental group (t = 2,254, gl = 15, p = .040) evidenced by the increase of 2 words compared to the initial measurement, thus demonstrating that the intervention could be an effective tool to maintain and improve your cognitive functionality.