Music Therapy, What's going on?

[dkistner]

I just read a short summary on mentalhealth.com of a study using music therapy with Alzheimer's patients. They were looking at levels of melatonin, serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and prolactin. The study showed an increase in blood levels of melatonin while the music was used, but the levels quickly dropped when it was discontinued. The increase in melatonin helped sleep and mood, reducing agitation. The article does not give details about what kind of music was used, but does make the recommendation to try playing "relaxing music" to help improve mood. <BR> <BR>I'm curious if anyone has seen the original article on which this summary was based or anything else in the current literature that might indicate music therapy is starting to be taken seriously, and seriously researched, as an alternative treatment to medications that influence levels of neurotransmitters. <BR> <BR>Here's the link to the short summary: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://mentalhealth.about.com/health/mentalhealth/library/archives/blindex.htm" TARGET="_top">http://mentalhealth.about.com/health/mentalhealth/library/archives/blindex.htm</A>

[rbecker]

diane, <BR> <BR> thanks for bringing this to our attention. <BR>my daughter works with alzheimer patients. i'll <BR>let you know what says.