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Colverson A, Barsoum S, Cohen R, Williamson J. Rhythmic musical activities may strengthen connectivity between brain networks associated with aging-related deficits in timing and executive functions. Exp Gerontol 2024; 186:112354. [PMID: 38176601 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Brain aging and common conditions of aging (e.g., hypertension) affect networks important in organizing information, processing speed and action programming (i.e., executive functions). Declines in these networks may affect timing and could have an impact on the ability to perceive and perform musical rhythms. There is evidence that participation in rhythmic musical activities may help to maintain and even improve executive functioning (near transfer), perhaps due to similarities in brain regions underlying timing, musical rhythm perception and production, and executive functioning. Rhythmic musical activities may present as a novel and fun activity for older adults to stimulate interacting brain regions that deteriorate with aging. However, relatively little is known about neurobehavioral interactions between aging, timing, rhythm perception and production, and executive functioning. In this review, we account for these brain-behavior interactions to suggest that deeper knowledge of overlapping brain regions associated with timing, rhythm, and cognition may assist in designing more targeted preventive and rehabilitative interventions to reduce age-related cognitive decline and improve quality of life in populations with neurodegenerative disease. Further research is needed to elucidate the functional relationships between brain regions associated with aging, timing, rhythm perception and production, and executive functioning to direct design of targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Colverson
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, 1651 4th street, San Francisco, CA, United States of America.
| | - Stephanie Barsoum
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100277, Gainesville, FL 32610-0277, United States of America
| | - Ronald Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100277, Gainesville, FL 32610-0277, United States of America
| | - John Williamson
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100277, Gainesville, FL 32610-0277, United States of America
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van’t Hooft JJ, Benhamou E, Albero Herreros C, Jiang J, Levett B, Core LB, Requena-Komuro MC, Hardy CJD, Tijms BM, Pijnenburg YAL, Warren JD. Musical experience influences socio-emotional functioning in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1341661. [PMID: 38333611 PMCID: PMC10851745 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1341661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives On phenotypic and neuroanatomical grounds, music exposure might potentially affect the clinical expression of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, this has not been clarified. Methods 14 consecutive patients with bvFTD fulfilling consensus diagnostic criteria were recruited via a specialist cognitive clinic. Earlier life musical experience, current musical listening habits and general socio-emotional behaviours were scored using a bespoke semi-quantitative musical survey and standardised functional scales, completed with the assistance of patients' primary caregivers. Associations of musical scores with behavioural scales were assessed using a linear regression model adjusted for age, sex, educational attainment and level of executive and general cognitive impairment. Results Greater earlier life musical experience was associated with significantly lower Cambridge Behavioural Inventory (Revised) scores (β ± SE = -17.2 ± 5.2; p = 0.01) and higher Modified Interpersonal Reactivity Index (MIRI) perspective-taking scores (β ± SE = 2.8 ± 1.1; p = 0.03), after adjusting for general cognitive ability. Number of hours each week currently spent listening to music was associated with higher MIRI empathic concern (β ± SE = 0.7 ± 0.21; p = 0.015) and MIRI total scores (β ± SE = 1.1 ± 0.34; p = 0.014). Discussion Musical experience in earlier life and potentially ongoing regular music listening may ameliorate socio-emotional functioning in bvFTD. Future work in larger cohorts is required to substantiate the robustness of this association, establish its mechanism and evaluate its clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochum J. van’t Hooft
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience—Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elia Benhamou
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Albero Herreros
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Jiang
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Levett
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy B. Core
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mai-Carmen Requena-Komuro
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chris J. D. Hardy
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Betty M. Tijms
- Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience—Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yolande A. L. Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience—Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jason D. Warren
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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