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Lifesoundtrack: an intergenerational musical experience to promote wellbeing in people with dementia while increasing community awareness

Title Lifesoundtrack: an intergenerational musical experience to promote wellbeing in people with dementia while increasing community awareness
Publication Type Conference Paper
Year of Publication 2019
Conference Name 14th​ International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases
Authors Gramunt, N. , Desiré , Morera A. , Gómez E. , Herrera P. , Nebot E. , Fauria K. , Piromalli D. , & Molinuevo J. L.
Conference Start Date 26/03/2019
Conference Location Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract OBJECTIVES: To alleviate the social withdrawal of dementia patients through the emotional impact of personally meaningful music and the power of intergenerational relations. To develop an innovative methodology to increase awareness of the reality of dementia. METHODS: Twelve teenager students contributed to generate the “life soundtracks” of 16 patients gathering data by means of a questionnaire to obtain a music playlist, fitting with personal significant life events and musical preferences, through a novel music recommendation technology. They also assessed emotional and wellbeing changes in the patients after 4 intervention sessions, where they listened together the personalized playlists. The students also worked on dissemination tasks and had little incursions in the media. RESULTS: With this experience we propose a methodology for evaluating the impact of a personalized music intervention in Alzheimer’s patients through an intergenerational approach, integrating state-of-the-art music recommendation technologies. The teenagers elaborated their baccalaureate degree, gained huge and specific knowledge on dementia, learnt the basis of clinical research and, as expressed by themselves, discovered their human potential to benefit patients with dementia. The patients experienced comforting emotional burst and the preliminary data pointed towards an increased wellbeing. The patients’ families were grateful on seeing how their loved ones seemed to “re-connect” with life. The community was reached through the spreading of a regional TV documentary and online broadcasting of the project. CONCLUSIONS: This experience has turned on a precious dementia-friendly initiative as shown in the short video specifically created for its spreading (intended to be projected during the presentation).
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