How music can help boost cognition in cancer patients and COVID-19 survivors

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at the University of South Florida find that music can help boost cognition in patients undergoing chemotherapy. In collaboration with the Moffitt Cancer Center, Jennifer Bugos, professor of music education at USF, and breast surgical oncologist Dr. Melissa Mallory examined the effects of private and group piano lessons on patients’ cognition and daily functioning.

“We are interested in investigating whether social support while learning a musical instrument can increase cognition in patients undergoing treatment for cancer if the curriculum is held constant, what areas of cognition can be improved, and what duration of music training is optimal for patients,” Bugos said.

The piano training protocol, Keys to Staying Sharp, includes more extensive instruction than your typical piano lesson, with more patterns and repetitions. Although studies have been conducted on cancer patients in remission, piano training has never before been offered to people undergoing chemotherapy.

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis and undergoing cancer treatment can have a significant impact on a patient’s mental health and overall well-being. Identifying new strategies to improve outcomes in these areas – especially drug-free options – is needed to truly enable comprehensive patient-centered cancer care,” said Mallory.

Preliminary data suggest that the musicians showed improved executive functions after receiving group piano lessons and self-reported that they found learning the piano fun and relaxing.

“There were a lot of outside stressors that contributed to my mood, but practicing piano and going to lessons were always something good and positive that I looked forward to, no matter what else was happening,” says Robin Hesselink, who is undergoing treatment for theater. IV metastatic breast cancer. “Even for those 30 minutes or an hour, I can forget about the other things and have something fun. At least temporarily, while I’m doing it, it has a very positive effect on me.”

According to the American Cancer Society, patients undergoing chemotherapy may have difficulty remembering things, focusing, completing tasks, or learning something new. Bugos believes that music education interventions can help overcome cancer-related cognitive impairment.

While the sample size is just a start (15 individuals), Bugos said it has helped launch new support from the National Endowment for the Arts, which just provided a two-year funding extension for some of its research conducted in the Coordination and Cognition Across the Arts. Lifespan in Music (CALM) lab, including another study specific to those diagnosed with COVID-19.

Bugos found that playing the JSax – a smaller version of the saxophone – can not only improve the breathing of adults who have had breathing difficulties due to COVID-19, but also sharpen their minds. From her pilot study, using a spirometer, she found that all seven participants doubled their breathing and reduced their error rate on a cognition test. The research team also found that participants experienced an increase in their inhibition and executive functions.

“It was a privilege to participate in the JSax program and I really enjoyed being a part of it,” said study participant Darlene DeMarie. “It was definitely challenging at first, but it was worth it when I saw my progress over time. Music is like therapy and it definitely adds to our lives.”

Bugos is expanding her research to include adults interested in learning an instrument who have never played before or have limited formal music training, such as private lessons. Her team is working to identify the effects of music training interventions on cognitive and motor performance and to distinguish which types of fine and gross motor music interventions have the greatest impact.

Researchers are currently recruiting adults aged 18 to 25 and over 60 years of age. Participants are randomly assigned to a musical intervention and receive lessons twice a week for 90 minutes for 12 weeks and complete four memory testing sessions.

The research team will study how music training interventions improve executive functions, such as memory, attention and processing speed, and the differences between the two age groups. They will also seek to determine which technologies are most effective in measuring outcomes and how much training is needed to maintain the benefits of music intervention. Preliminary data suggests that adults in both age groups can improve cognitive performance after learning a musical instrument.

“Aging is associated with increased demands on cognitive resources,” Bugos said. “Learning a challenging new activity, such as learning a musical instrument, can increase sensorimotor activity, leading to strengthened neural pathways and improved cognition.”