Effects of a 3-month composite music-based recreational program on mood and executive function in institutionalized patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and executive dysfunction are highly prevalent in advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), particularly among institutionalized patients, yet evidence for structured rehabilitation in this population remains limited. We conducted a 3-month longitudinal pilot study in nine institutionalized patients with clinically established idiopathic PD according to Movement Disorder Society criteria. Participants received a weekly 45-min composite music-based recreational program incorporating stretching, perioral and pharyngeal exercises, and singing with coordinated movements. Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States 2 (POMS-2), and executive function was evaluated using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) at baseline and post-intervention. Significant improvements were observed in POMS-2 subdomains of anger–hostility ( p = 0.014), while Total Mood Disturbance and other subdomains showed a trend toward improvement. Executive function did not significantly improve at the group level ( p = 0.240); however, change in FAB was significantly correlated with change in Total Mood Disturbance ( r = 0.677, p = 0.023). These findings suggest that a feasible music-based recreational program may modulate negative mood states in institutionalized patients with advanced PD and highlight a potential relationship between affective and executive changes warranting further investigation.