Researchers of a study evaluated the impact of music therapy on the cognitive functions of Alzheimer’s disease. The research involved a systematic literature search across various databases, focusing on randomized controlled trials that compared music therapy with standard care or non-musical interventions, specifically assessing cognitive outcomes like memory, language, and attention.

The study, which spanned papers published between January 2012 and June 2022, included 8 out of 144 studies meeting the criteria, involving 689 participants with a mean age range of 60.47-87.1 years from Europe, Asia, and the USA. The results indicated an improvement in cognitive functions following music therapy, especially when active music intervention (AMI) was used, and patients were actively involved in making music. The conclusion underscores the potential of music therapy as an adjunctive treatment for AD, emphasizing the need for further research to fully grasp its effects, determine the most effective intervention strategies, and assess its long-term impact on cognitive functions.

Reference: Bleibel M, El Cheikh A, Sadier NS, Abou-Abbas L. The effect of music therapy on cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2023;15(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s13195-023-01214-9.