Hindawi, Parkinson's Disease, (2022), p. 1-12, 2022
DOI: 10.1155/2022/1061045
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Playing musical instruments may have positive effects on motor, emotional, and cognitive deficits in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This pilot study examined the feasibility of a six-week nontraditional guitar instruction program for individuals with PD. Twenty-six participants with idiopathic PD (Age: 67.22 ± 8.07; 17 males) were randomly assigned to two groups (intervention first or 6 weeks of usual care control exposure) with stepwise exposure to the guitar intervention condition with cross-over at six weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 weeks. Twenty-four participants completed the study. Combined analysis of the groups showed significant BDI-II improvement immediately after intervention completion (3.04 points, 95% CI [−5.2, −0.9], p = 0.04 ). PDQ-39 total quality of life scores improved from baseline to immediately postintervention 5.19 points (95% CI [−9.4, −1.0]) at trend significance (corrected p = 0.07 ). For Group 1 (exposed to the intervention first), MDS-UPDRS total scores improved by a mean of 8.04 points (95% CI [−12.4, −3.7], p = 0.004 ) and remained improved at 12 weeks by 10.37 points (95% CI [−14.7, −6.0], p < 0.001 ). This group also had significant improvements in mood and depression at weeks 6 and 12, remaining significant at week 18 (BDI-II: 3.75, 95% CI [−5.8, −1.7], p = 0.004 ; NeuroQoL-depression: 10.6, 95% CI [−4.9. −1.4], p = 0.004 ), and in anxiety at week 6 and week 18 (NeuroQoL; 4.42, 95% CI [−6.8, −2.1], p = 0.004 ; 3.58, 95% CI [−5.9, −1.2], p = 0.02 , respectively). We found clinically and statistically significant improvements in mood/anxiety after 6 weeks of group guitar classes in individuals with PD. Group guitar classes can be a feasible intervention in PD and may improve mood, anxiety, and quality of life.