Abstract: Objective  To observe the effects of interactive singing performance on depression, psychobehavioral symptoms and rate of participation in exercise training in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods  Sixtythree patients with AD who met the inclusion criteria ≥60 years old were randomly divided into study group (31 cases) and control group (32 cases). All patients received routine drug therapy and regular exercise training. The control group received passive music therapy. The study group received active music therapy mainly based on interactive singing. Both groups were trained for 1 time/d, 1 hour each time, 5 days per week, and the intervention continued for 6 months. The score of Cornell Dementia Depression Scale (CSDD), Alzheimer's Disease Pathological Behavior (BEHAVEAD) and the participation rate were assessed before treatment, 1 month, 3 months after treatment and 6 months after treatment, respectively. Results  After 1 month and 3 months of treatment, the CSDD scores in study group were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the CSDD scores in study group were significantly lower than those before treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05), and the difference had statistic significance compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 1 month and 3 months of treatment, the BEHAVEAD scores in  study group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the BEHAVEAD scores in study group were significantly lower than those before treatment, 1 month after treatment and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05), and the difference showed significance between two groups (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment, there was significant difference between two groups in terms of the participation rate of exercise training (P<0.05). Conclusion  Interactive singing performance may have positive effect on improving depression and psychobehavioral symptoms in patients with mild to moderate AD, and may have more positive effect on improving participants' participation in exercise training.

Key words: Alzheimer disease;interactive singing performance, depression, mental behavior