Effects of movement music therapy with the naruko clapper on physical function and frontal lobe function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment

Inclusion criteria: Participants were those who voluntary took part in the 2014 preventive care class provided by the municipality of Eiheiji Town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. They completed a preventive care checklist that focuses on memory impairment, which was constructed with reference to the definition of MCI. Exclusion criteria: Final cerebral blood flow measurement not obtained or physical function test not conducted.Individuals requiring care were excluded in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment. In the MMT intervention group,each MMT session started with a 30min warm‐up exercise consisting of about 8 min of light exercise tailored to the BGM. The next 30 min involved exercises to the BGM that aimed to strengthen the leg muscles for fall prevention. This was followed by MMT using the Naruko clapper for 30 min to accompan; Yosakoi Icchorai Ondo", a song familiar to residents of Fukui Prefecture.Other familiar songs, such as the 365 Step March and the Hakodatenohito were also used in the MMT group. The session ended with relaxation exercises as well as deep breathing and massage to accompanying BGM. In the STT control group, an instructor guided the participants in the same exercises performed in the MMT group by giving counts only, without accompanying BGM or use of the Naruko clapper 1.Cognitive function tests The frontal assessment battery (FAB) Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) The study was performed over a 14 weeks in July to October 2014. Data were collected on participant characteristics, physical indicators, and FAB score at each of the 3 study venues before and after the intervention. CBF was measured in sessions 1 and 12 1.Basic attributes The household situation, main complaint, anamnesis, permission of the medical attendant, medicines taken, family, career, physical strength. 2.Physical indicators Systolic blood pressure (SBP) Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) Body weight (BW) Body balance (one‐leg standing with eyes open) Flexibility (sit‐and‐reach test) Gait (maximum walking speed) Muscle endurance (30‐Second Chair Stand Test) Muscle strength (grip strength in both hands) Functional mobility (timed Up & Go test)