Clinical Effects of Music Therapy on Electroencephalographs in Dementia after Recovery from Pneumonia: A Case Report

Abstract

　The effect of music therapy was investigated in an 87-year-old woman with bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the left lower lobes in addition to dementia. Her lungs recovered under treatment with antibiotics including sulbactam sodium/ampicillin sodium and ceftazidime. Music therapy was introduced upon initiation of rehabilitation and administration of rivastigmine. The music selected was that she had enjoyed when in her youth, in the 1970s. Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were obtained at least twice each when the music was on and when it was off, each period lasting approximately 3 min. After obtaining each EEG, the patient was asked whether the music was familiar to her, and the neurosurgeon as to what degree of change was observed on the EEG. The neurosurgeon reported that the amplitudes of the α waves increased when she was listening to familiar music. After the patient’s oral antibiotics were changed, rehabilitation and music therapy were continued for a further 3 months. She was discharged in good health.