Discussion
depressive, depression, MCI, cognitive impairment
The participants in the music intervention group improved significantly in both objectively scored cognitive function and depressive symptoms; however, no statistically significant changes were observed in the control group. This study provided evidence that receptive music therapy intervention had a positive effect on cognitive function and depression symptoms in older adults with MCI. This confirms that it can be a useful intervention for older adults with MCI and depression symptoms.Our results indicated that the MoCA scores in the intervention group were significantly higher after receptive music therapy intervention and cognitive function was improved, but there was no significant change in the control group, providing preliminary evidence that receptive music therapy intervention effectively improved cognitive function. The result indicated that a music-based intervention was associated with improved cognitive function in older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, which is in line with a previous studyOur results indicated a significant difference between pre-and post-intervention GDS-15 scores in the intervention group. Music therapy can effectively reduce depression and is an important intervention. A study found that music therapy intervention decreased depression levels in older adultsThe receptive music therapy intervention can be conducted in a variety of places (such as community centers, nursing homes, and participants’ homes), in groups, or individuallyThis study has several limitations. First, the study only assessed the effects after the intervention. The long-term effects of music therapy were not evaluated. Second, due to the lack of staff, we chose group intervention. And we encouraged the expression and development of thought, which were parts of the receptive music therapy. While this can help the elderly to communicate and share their stories, it was difficult determining whether the music alone was effective because communication of group meeting can be a confounding variable for depression. However, the control group also received social or group component such as the outdoor activities, counseling and health education intervention which may reduce the confounding effect. What’s more, the measurement of cognitive function was conducted using the MoCA, which is often used for screening. Future research could benefit from the incorporation of a neuropsychological assessment tool. In the future, follow-up studies should further explore the significance of this intervention, more types of interventions need to be developed, and more registered music therapists should be involved in the development of interventions.In conclusion, this study explored the effects of a receptive music therapy intervention on older adults with MCI and depression in China. Our study provided promising results for improvement in cognitive function and depression symptoms. The receptive music therapy intervention was easy to intervene and interesting for participants, ensuring better compliance, and allowing all participants to complete the study. The 8-week receptive music therapy intervention had positive effects on older adults with MCI and depression. Thus, the receptive music therapy intervention is suitable for promotion in both communities and nursing homes. However, receptive music therapy intervention still needs to be verified in further research exploring how it could delay or reduce the occurrence of MCI and improve the quality of life in older adults.