Introduction: Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most dominant (more than 60%) in the whole dementia and the incidence of AD for people at age 65 years or older becomes twice with an increase in age by 5 years, so the development of countermeasures against it is an urgent issue. For improving cognitive functions, the effectiveness of dual-task (a task for which two different things are performed at the same time) and that of n-back task (a task for which delayed recall of a thing performed at n times ago is carried out) have been verified. In addition, we have also verified that distress has negative effects on cognitive functions. Hence, we started dual-task-and n-back task-incorporated intervention geared toward elderly people living in Kashihara-city. In this method, music therapy was adopted for the distress reduction and the eustress enhancement. The purposes of this study are to verify the preventive effect against dementia by the dual-task-and n-back task-incorporated music therapy and to measure the effect of music therapy on the distress reduction. In this study, the intervention group and the control group were compared during the intervention for three months. Methods:A screening test for mild cognitive impairment was carried out with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA test). Stress check was performed by collecting sublingual saliva and measuring α-amylase. Analysis was conducted with t-test corresponding to the comparison between the intervention group and the control group. Results:The intervention group showed significant improvement of cognitive functions and a decrease in distress, compared to the control group. Conclusion:The dual-task-and n-back task-incorporated music therapy improved cognitive functions and reduced distress. To verify this repeatedly to refine the technique and to accumulate effective programs are our future tasks.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common dementia, Background accounting for more than 60% of all dementia cases. For adults aged >65 years, the incidence rate doubles for every 5 years of increased age; therefore, preserving cognitive function is a pressing issue. Thus, our team screens for AD in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, at 11 public halls in Kashihara City, Japan, and offers follow-up to those with cognitive difficulties. The purpose of this research was to measure the effects of two interventions, a dual-task (requiring the participant to perform two tasks at the same time) and an n-back task (test of memory retention, requiring the participant to identify the item occupying the nth-back position in a sequence of items). A comparison group performed a single learning task in place of the dual-task. Moreover, the majority of non-drug therapies for the maintenance of cognitive function help promote a positive mood, activating reward systems in the brain and motivating the individual to continue the task. Therefore, the correlation between cognitive function, and positive and negative mood was investigated.: Dual and n-back task (n = 304) and single-task (n = 78) groups were Methods compared in a 6-month intervention. Salivary α-amylase concentration was measured, which reflects positive and negative mood, and correlations with cognitive function were analyzed.: Cognitive function improved in both the dual-task and the single-task Results groups, and many cognitive domains had improved in the dual-task group. A correlation between salivary α-amylase and cognitive function was found, indicating that a greater positive mood was associated with greater cognitive function.: The results of this research show that functional decline can be Conclusion improved by a cognitive intervention. Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention.

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