The efficacy of music theraphy for non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16598
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52020:Neurology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Goto Kazuya 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定助教 (50852125)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 音楽療法 / パーキンソン病 / 認知症 / 非薬物療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of music therapy for non-motor symptoms, including cognitive decline, in patients with Parkinson's disease. However, an outbreak of new coronavirus infection forced a change of plan from face-to-face implementation to online music therapy. Music therapy was conducted by a music therapist once a week for 45 minutes for 8 consecutive weeks and was evaluated before and after the intervention. Although the change of plan caused a significant delay, the data analysis is expected to be completed by the end of this fiscal year.

Although the effectiveness of the intervention will have to wait for data analysis, the establishment of a new method of online music therapy has great significance in that it can be provided under infectious disease outbreaks such as this one and in areas where there are no music therapists nearby.

Free Research Field

認知症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はまだ現在進行中ではあるが、パーキンソン病患者の認知機能低下を含む非運動症状に対する根治的治療のない状態で非薬物療法の有力な治療手段の1つになる可能性を示している。当初は対面での音楽療法を実施する予定であったが、新型コロナウイルス感染症の流行により大幅な遅れとオンラインによる音楽療法へと計画変更を余儀なくされた。
しかし、そのおかげでこれまで対面で行うものであった音楽療法にオンラインという新たな手段を確立することができた。それにより、今回のような感染症の流行下であっても在宅で行うことが可能であることに加え、近くに音楽療法士のいないような地域でも提供できるという社会的意義を持つ。