Music Therapy Protocol to Support Bulbar and Respiratory Functions in ALS

ALS clinical presentation and pathophysiology Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a group of rapidly progressive fatal neurological diseases involving the brain and spinal cord. Clinical presentation is phenotypically heterogeneous and depends on the type of onset. The pathophysiology mechanisms behind ALS are not clear and may include oxidative stress, protein misfolding and aggregation, skeletal muscle dysfunction, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis. Whilst in the past ALS was considered distinctly a disorder of the motor system, current evidence suggests that some cognitive (ALSci) or behavioural (ALSbi) impairment occurs in up to 50% of cases, and co-morbid dementia (ALS-FTD) occurs in approximately 14% of patients with a new diagnosis of ALS. The notion that "pure" ALS and "pure" FTD may present two extremes of one disease continuum is reinforced by identification of transactive response DNA‐binding protein 43 (TDP‐43) as a major pathological substrate underlying both diseases. Emotional lability (pseudobulbar affect), a symptom frequently correlated with bulbar involvement in ALS, may also be confusing and disruptive, especially when communicating with those who are not aware of the nature of the problem. Music therapy potential in multidisciplinary model of ALS care Considering the multiple and complex needs of people with ALS (PALS), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) guideline [NG42] suggests coordinated care using a clinic based, specialist ALS multidisciplinary team approach. American Academy of Neurology recommends multidisciplinary team (MDT) model of care where patients are seen by a comprehensive team of health care professionals who each focus on specific health domains including walking, breathing, speaking, eating, activities of daily living, and psychosocial needs during one clinical visit. Multidisciplinary ALS care has been shown to increase survival of people with PALS and to improve their mental QoL. More rehabilitation options have to be considered for PALS, enabling them to reach their fullest potential, delaying the disease progression and prolonging lifespan. Music therapy (MT) is the clinical use of music and its elements to accomplish individualized health goals within a therapeutic relationship. Music engages vast network of regions located in both hemispheres of the brain and shares processing components with other functions, such as those involved in language, movement, reasoning and experiencing emotions. Application of MT principles in neurorehabilitation allow to treat cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions. Professionally trained music therapists are well equipped to provide symptomatic care for people with neurodegenerative diseases, adapting to increasing and changing disability of each patient as the disease progresses, whilst maintaining and developing trusting therapeutic relationship established early in the disease course. Albeit currently underused, MT could be one of the modalities of supportive rehabilitation in ALS. Research on clinical MT applications for ALS is scarce and presents significant challenges due to heterogeneity of ALS clinical presentation and progression, poor scientific understanding of the disease mechanisms and the ethical issues of research involving terminally ill people. It has been suggested that MT could contribute to interdisciplinary ALS care. There is anecdotal evidence that MT increases mind-body connection, reduces distressing physical symptoms such as dyspnoea and pain, and associated feelings of loneliness, anxiety and sadness for patients with advanced ALS, is "pleasant and restorative" for PALS with tracheostomy and their families , and provides families affected by ALS with opportunities for shared meaningful activities.

Child, Adult, Older Adult, all genders, not accepting healthy volunteers