The Effects of Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy on Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at an increased risk for developing dementia, especially Alzheimer disease; and pharmacological therapy for MCI is limited. As a result, nonpharmacological mediums have been considered to complement standard drug therapy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of nonpharmacological therapies, occupational therapy and music therapy, on cognitive functions and depressive mood in MCI patients. METHODS: We enrolled patients with MCI from the Mapo Dementia Center and divided them into two groups, group A (n=14) who participated in a cognitive program for 12 months and group B (n=15) who did not participate in a cognitive program. We compared the baseline and followed-up scores of the Korean-version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB), and the short version of geriatric depression scale (sGDS) between the two groups. RESULTS: Group A showed improvements in total and language scores in the K-MMSE and digit span backward scores in the SNSB and sGDS. In contrast, group B showed a decline in the Seoul Verbal Learning Test recognition score in the SNSB. Additionally, there were significant intergroup differences in the total and language scores in K-MMSE, the digit span backward score, and the Rey Complex Figure Test-delayed recall scores and depression scores. CONCLUSION: Occupational therapy and music therapy may help to improve cognitive functions and depressive mood in patients with MCI.