4 ways music therapy can help people with dementia

Written by:

Ashley Ringle

Reviewed by:

Neurology, Neurophysiology

Music can play on our emotions. Certain songs can make us feel sad, happy, nostalgic, or get us up on our feet to dance.

Research shows that music also has a powerful effect on our memory — so powerful, in fact, that it can be used to improve recall in patients with dementia.

“Dementia is a term that describes a decline in cognitive function, such as thinking, reasoning, and both short and long-term memory,” said Kevin Bockhold, MD, a neurologist with Endeavor Health. “The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s, a progressive disease that destroys the brain cells and has no cure.”

Research on patients with Alzheimer’s disease shows that musical recall is partially unaffected by the disease. This means that, despite their disease, they can learn the tune and the lyrics to new songs and react emotionally to songs from their past.

Studies also reveal that music engages the brain’s long-term memory, which can also spark what researchers call “music-evoked autobiographical memories,” which can be vivid, detailed and emotional.

What’s the role of music therapy in managing Alzheimer's disease?

Research suggests patients who receive music therapy show lower rates of depression and anxiety, better cognition and verbal fluency, and an increased ability to remember details from their own lives.

Some benefits of music therapy for people with memory issues include:

Maintain a sense of identity. “Music therapy can be critical in helping patients with dementia maintain a sense of identity,” said Dr. Bockhold. “Maybe they recognize a song that played at a significant life event, like a wedding, and it brings them back to that happy emotional state.”
Slow cognitive decline. “Music therapy may even be able to help delay cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's,” said Dr. Bockhold. “This is promising for people who may have a genetic predisposition to the disease.” Even when the cognitive decline is advanced, people with Alzheimer’s can recognize familiar songs and even sing along.
Reduce anxiety and depression. People with dementia often experience depression, anxiety and aggression. Music can help with these symptoms, reducing or even eliminating the need for medications. By increasing dopamine levels in the brain, music can help soothe dementia patients and improve their mood.
Connect with others. Music can also help create connections between loved ones or caregivers and patients with dementia. Neurodegenerative diseases gradually steal language and vocabulary, making it difficult or impossible for patients to communicate with others. Music can provide another way to connect by singing or humming along to a shared song.

“Taking care of a loved one with dementia can be very challenging and emotionally taxing,” said Dr. Bockhold. “Being able to connect through music can recreate a lost emotional connection with your loved one and bring some joy to a difficult situation.”

While there is no cure for dementia, music therapy is a noninvasive treatment option that may not only slow down the progression of the condition but also bring patients relief from the difficult emotional impacts of their disease.

Whether you opt to work with a licensed music therapist or you decide to rummage through your loved one’s old CD or record collection, music might be a powerful tool that can help you help your loved one.

“We’re still researching the benefits of music therapy, but the evidence so far is intriguing,” said Dr. Bockhold. “Music is an intervention with little or no downsides but potentially powerful outcomes for patients with dementia, which could mean a lot to those people and the families who love and care for them.”

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