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The power of automated music therapy for senior citizens

Posted: 07-10-2024

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This paper explores an innovative approach to managing anxiety and depression in older adults through automated music therapy. By using low-complexity, non-invasive body sensors to monitor mental health symptoms in real-time, the system enables personalized music therapy interventions. This approach aims to reduce the dependence on mental health professionals, enhance accessibility to mental health care, and improve the well-being of the elderly.

Outline the paper

Malik Faizan, co-author

As people get older, they often face challenges like stress and feeling low, which can be hard to treat because of limited access to mental health professionals. This paper proposes a simple solution: using wearable sensors, like a watch, to detect signs of anxiety or depression, such as changes in heart rate or sleep patterns. When the sensors notice these signs, they trigger soothing, personalized music to play, which helps calm the person down. The idea is to use music to lift their mood and reduce stress without needing a therapist present. This makes mental health care more accessible and can improve the quality of life for older individuals.

What does it mean to me?

Many seniors experience loneliness, stress, or mental health challenges but often lack access to therapists due to cost, mobility issues, or shortages of mental health professionals. This research offers a practical, technology-based solution: using wearable devices to detect emotional distress and play personalized music to improve mood and reduce anxiety. For many, music is familiar and comforting, making this therapy easy to adopt. By enabling older individuals to manage their mental health more independently, this approach can enhance their quality of life, reduce the burden on caregivers, and potentially lessen the need for medication. It brings a sense of empowerment and comfort, making mental health care more approachable and personalized for those who need it.

What’s are the next steps?

Clinical trials will be crucial to evaluate its effectiveness in diverse settings, such as homes and assisted living facilities. Moreover, collaborating with healthcare professionals to integrate this system into existing mental health care practices will be essential. Developing more advanced, user-friendly sensors for real-time monitoring of anxiety and depression symptoms in older adults will first be required.

The future focus will also be on enhancing the accuracy of symptom detection and tailoring music therapy to each individual’s preferences and needs for maximum therapeutic benefit. Ultimately, the goal is to make this technology widely available, ensuring older adults can easily access personalized, non-invasive support for mental health challenges, improving overall well-being and reducing reliance on traditional treatments.

Wearable health technology companies could integrate this approach into their devices, expanding beyond physical health tracking to mental well-being monitoring. The mental health industry can also benefit by offering a supplementary, low-cost therapeutic tool that reduces the burden on healthcare professionals and makes therapy more accessible. In the future, the approach could be adopted in wellness and lifestyle industries, where personalized music therapy can be used for general stress relief and mood enhancement across all age groups. It opens opportunities for technology-driven, personalized mental health interventions, reshaping how mental health care is delivered.

Publication Title: Automated music therapy for anxiety and depression management in older people (AMITY)

Authors: Malik Faizan, PJ White, Indrakshi Dey

Publication Date: 2nd October 2024

Name of Journal: EU-CONEXUS EENVIRO Conference 2024