Nonverbal Communication in Aged People

Musical interventions improve the emotional state of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) while having a positive impact on the caregiver's well-being. However, the factors that could be responsible for this positive effect remain unknown. Among these, the sensory-motor synchronization (SMS) of movements to the musical rhythm, frequently observed during musical activities and possible up to the advanced stages of AD, could modulate the emotional state. Several recent studies have shown that rhythmic training (or SMS) influences the organism at the motor, cognitive and social levels while activating the cerebral reward circuit. This action that generates pleasure also facilitates non-verbal emotional expression. However, the conditions that modulate SMS and their relationship to nonverbal communication, emotional, behavioral and cognitive state have not yet been studied in healthy or pathological elderly.