Psychosocial and physiological effects of choir singing in people with dementia: A pilot study

Background Research suggests that music‐based interventions can improve emotional well‐being and quality of life in people with dementia. However, investigations are generally confined to specific music therapy settings. Complex music‐based interventions from day‐to‐day life, such as choir singing, have rarely been studied, not least because of the methodological challenges. Here we report on a pilot study examining the benefits of singing in persons with dementia that had joined a choir created especially for them. Method In preparation for a larger study on the impact of regular choir singing in dementia, we conducted a feasibility study to assess the expected effects on psychosocial and physiological outcomes. Emotional well‐being, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, physiological stress markers and quality of life were measured in the 19 choir members, all of whom had mild to moderate dementia (age: M = 76.95 [SD = 8.18]; f = 10 (52.6%); MMSE: M = 16.42 [SD = 5.79]) and were accompanied by their caregiving relatives. The weekly choir rehearsals took place over two months. Sessions were evaluated individually (situational measurements) and overall (pre/post‐tests). Result Our data suggested significant increases in emotional well‐being during the choir sessions (p < .05; Cohen’s dRM between 0.5 and 0.9), as well as significant reductions in cortisol levels in saliva as an indicator of stress (p < .05; dRM between ‐0.2 and ‐0.76). A pre‐post evaluation (paired sample t‐tests) showed noticeable, but not significant improvements in neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and quality of life. Caregivers’ observations confirmed the positive influence of choir singing on participants’ emotional and communication behavior. Conclusion The results of the pilot study reveal the therapeutic potential of choir‐based music interventions in persons with dementia and show that these effects can be demonstrated under real‐world conditions. A large‐scale randomized controlled study should further investigate the effects of choir singing in dementia.