Selected Acoustic Frequencies Have a Positive Impact on Behavioural and Physiological Welfare Indicators in Thoroughbred Racehorses.

(1) Background: Since antiquity, it is considered that sounds influence human emotional states and health. Acoustic enrichment has also been proposed for domestic animals. However, in both humans and animals, effects vary according to the type of sound. Human studies suggest that frequencies, more than melodies, play a key role. Low and high frequencies, music tuning frequency and even EEG slow waves used for 'neurofeedback' produce effects. (2) Methods: We tested the possible impact of such pure frequencies on racehorses' behavior and physiology. A commercial non-audible acoustic stimulus, composed of an array of the above-mentioned frequencies, was broadcasted twice daily and for three weeks to 12 thoroughbred horses in their home stall. (3) Results: The results show a decrease in stereotypic behaviors and other indicators such as yawning or vacuum chewing, an increase in the time spent in recumbent resting and foraging, and better hematological measures during and after the playback phase for 4 of the 10 physiological parameters measured. (4) Conclusions: These results open new lines of research on possible ways of alleviating the stress related to housing and training conditions in racehorses and of improving physical recovery.

Personalized treatment interventions: nonpharmacological and natural treatment strategies in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slow, irreversible, progressive, complex, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Available pharmacological treatment, known for almost two decades, does not cure the disease, but only alleviates the symptoms, with various efficacy and different side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need to find other person-centered or personalized approaches to treat AD.Areas covered: This article describes the application of precision medicine-like approaches utilizing nonpharmacological treatment strategies and the use of natural products in personalized care for patients with AD.Expert opinion: Due to the heterogeneity of disease symptoms, somatic conditions, and patient preferences, there is definitely no "one size fits all" intervention. Therefore, individualized treatment choice is based on dementia stage, medical and psychiatric comorbidity, leading symptoms, patient preferences, and remaining capacity of the patient. In the absence of disease-modifying agents, a patient-centered, multidisciplinary team approach appears to be the best option to alleviate the heavy symptomatic burden in this unfortunate population. Hence, appropriate interventions can be offered along the AD continuum, while a better understanding of personal characteristics might help in establishing optimal individualized treatment, as well as its duration and intensity, to deliver interventions in the most effective ways.

Musicoterapia aplicada a niños con síndrome de Down / Musicotherapy applied to children with Down's syndrome

INTRODUCCIÓN. El síndrome de Down continúa siendo la enfermedad genética por aberración cromosómica más frecuente. La música se ha utilizado con fines terapéuticos en estos pacientes y se han obtenido buenos resultados, por lo que se decidió aplicarla a un grupo de niños con esta condición genética e investigar la percepción que de ella tienen padres y profesores. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo sobre el conocimiento de padres y profesores acerca de la musicoterapia y de los resultados de su aplicación en 18 niños con síndrome de Down matriculados en el Circulo Infantil Especial Zunzún, en La Habana. Después de 9 meses de aplicación de la terapia se realizó una encuesta a las 12 profesoras y a 18 padres y madres de estos niños. RESULTADOS. Cinco (41,6 por ciento) profesoras conocían de la musicoterapia antes de su aplicación, mientras que en los padres el conocimiento fue proporcionalmente menor. Todas las profesoras reconocieron nuevas habilidades en el 100 por ciento de los niños y los avances más importantes fueron el lenguaje, la socialización y el aprendizaje. El 77,7 por ciento de los padres señalaron avances en la socialización, el lenguaje y las habilidades motoras. El 100 por ciento de las educadoras y el 88,8 por ciento de los padres se mostraron satisfechos y desean que se mantenga en la institución. CONCLUSIONES. Existía desconocimiento de esta terapia por parte de profesoras y padres. Se reconocieron avances en diferentes áreas del lenguaje, aprendizaje y la socialización, por lo que se recomienda como método terapéutico desde edades tempranas, para mejorar la calidad de vida del niño y de la familia

INTRODUCTION. The Down's syndrome remains the more frequent genetic disease due to chromosomal aberration. The music has been used with therapeutic aims in these patients obtaining good results, thus we decide its implementation in a group of children presenting with this genetic condition and also to research its perception in parents and professors. METHODS. A descriptive study was conducted on the knowledge of parents and professors on Musicotherapy and of results of its implementation in 18 children with Down's syndrome from the Zunzún Special Nursery in La Habana. After 9 months of therapy12 professor and 18 parents were polled. RESULTS. Five professors (41,6 percent) known the Musicotherapy before its implementation, whereas in parents the knowledge of this type of therapy was poor. All professors recognized new abilities in the 100 percent of children and the more significant advances were in the language, the socialization and the learning. The 77,7 percent of parents indicated advances in socialization, language and motor abilities. The 100 percent of professors and the 88,8 percent of parents to be satisfied and they wish the continuation of this therapy in the institution. CONCLUSIONS. There was a lack of knowledge on this therapy in professors and parents. Advances were recognized in different areas of language, learning and socialization, thus it is recommendable its implementation from early ages to improve the quality of life of child and its family

Musicoterapia aplicada a niños con síndrome de Down / Musicotherapy applied to children with Down's syndrome

INTRODUCCIÓN. El síndrome de Down continúa siendo la enfermedad genética por aberración cromosómica más frecuente. La música se ha utilizado con fines terapéuticos en estos pacientes y se han obtenido buenos resultados, por lo que se decidió aplicarla a un grupo de niños con esta condición genética e investigar la percepción que de ella tienen padres y profesores. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo sobre el conocimiento de padres y profesores acerca de la musicoterapia y de los resultados de su aplicación en 18 niños con síndrome de Down matriculados en el Circulo Infantil Especial Zunzún, en La Habana. Después de 9 meses de aplicación de la terapia se realizó una encuesta a las 12 profesoras y a 18 padres y madres de estos niños. RESULTADOS. Cinco (41,6 por ciento) profesoras conocían de la musicoterapia antes de su aplicación, mientras que en los padres el conocimiento fue proporcionalmente menor. Todas las profesoras reconocieron nuevas habilidades en el 100 por ciento de los niños y los avances más importantes fueron el lenguaje, la socialización y el aprendizaje. El 77,7 por ciento de los padres señalaron avances en la socialización, el lenguaje y las habilidades motoras. El 100 por ciento de las educadoras y el 88,8 por ciento de los padres se mostraron satisfechos y desean que se mantenga en la institución. CONCLUSIONES. Existía desconocimiento de esta terapia por parte de profesoras y padres. Se reconocieron avances en diferentes áreas del lenguaje, aprendizaje y la socialización, por lo que se recomienda como método terapéutico desde edades tempranas, para mejorar la calidad de vida del niño y de la familia(AU)

INTRODUCTION. The Down's syndrome remains the more frequent genetic disease due to chromosomal aberration. The music has been used with therapeutic aims in these patients obtaining good results, thus we decide its implementation in a group of children presenting with this genetic condition and also to research its perception in parents and professors. METHODS. A descriptive study was conducted on the knowledge of parents and professors on Musicotherapy and of results of its implementation in 18 children with Down's syndrome from the Zunzún Special Nursery in La Habana. After 9 months of therapy12 professor and 18 parents were polled. RESULTS. Five professors (41,6 percent) known the Musicotherapy before its implementation, whereas in parents the knowledge of this type of therapy was poor. All professors recognized new abilities in the 100 percent of children and the more significant advances were in the language, the socialization and the learning. The 77,7 percent of parents indicated advances in socialization, language and motor abilities. The 100 percent of professors and the 88,8 percent of parents to be satisfied and they wish the continuation of this therapy in the institution. CONCLUSIONS. There was a lack of knowledge on this therapy in professors and parents. Advances were recognized in different areas of language, learning and socialization, thus it is recommendable its implementation from early ages to improve the quality of life of child and its family(AU)

Effect of Musicotherapy on Agitation Behaviors in Patients with Aged Dementia / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo explore the effect of musicotherapy on agitation behaviors in patients with aged dementia (AD).Methods22 AD patients were treated with different musicotherapies, and examined with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and self made sociality psychological inventory before and after treatment.ResultsAfter musicotherapy, the incidence rate of agitation behaviors of AD patients decreased significantly ( P<0.001). The incidence rates of agitation behaviors among patients with low, middle and high MMSE scores were significantly different ( P<0.001). After musicotherapy, both depressions of patients' cognitive function and scores of agitation behaviors were significant different compared with that before treatment (P<0.01). Effectual rates of musicotherapy on sociality psychological emotion, communication, language and intercourse of this group patients were 86.36%, 90.91%, 72.73% and 77.27%, respectively.ConclusionMusicotherapy can effectively alleviate the symptoms of agitation behaviors in AD patients.