INFLUENCE OF DINNER MUSIC ON FOOD-INTAKE AND SYMPTOMS COMMON IN DEMENTIA

The influence of dinner music on food intake and symptoms common in de mentia such as depressed mood, irritability and restlessness was studi ed. The study was carried out in a nursing-home ward in Sweden. Soothi ng music was played as dinner music for two weeks, Swedish tunes from the 1920s and 1930s for two weeks and pop music for two weeks. Prior t o these periods, there was one week without music, and at the end of t he intervention there was a two-week control period. The effects of th e intervention were assessed by psychological ratings and by weighing the food helpings. It was found that during ail three music periods th e patients ate more in total. The difference was particularly signific ant for the dessert. The staff were thought to be influenced by the mu sic, as they served the patients more food, both main course and desse rt, whenever music was played. The patients were less irritable, anxio us and depressed during the music periods. The results of the study su ggest that dinner music, particularly soothing music, can reduce irrit ability, fear-panic and depressed mood and can stimulate demented pati ents in a nursing-home ward into eating more.