A groundbreaking study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge has revealed how and why music can alleviate distress and agitation in individuals with advanced dementia. In the UK, an estimated one million people live with dementia, with over half diagnosed with the advanced form. This often necessitates specialized care and can be accompanied by challenging behaviors such as agitation, aggression, wandering, and resistance to care.
Published in Nature Mental Health, the study details the diverse benefits of music therapy, identifies the mechanisms through which music exerts these effects, and offers a framework for implementing effective music therapy for individuals with advanced dementia. This therapy, delivered by trained professionals, can involve singing, playing, or listening to music. Therapists can also provide guidance to families and caregivers on incorporating music into daily care routines.
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The research demonstrates that personalized music therapy can provide immediate, short-term relief from agitation and anxiety in individuals with advanced dementia, while also improving attention, engagement, alertness, and mood. Musical interactions can foster a sense of safety and orientation, thereby reducing distress and enhancing well-being.
This positive impact stems from music’s ability to provide cognitive and sensory stimulation, activating networks across both brain hemispheres. This activation facilitates access to remaining abilities and memories, helping individuals manage emotions and maintain calm. Music can also be tailored to reduce physiological stress, specifically within the autonomic nervous system.
Lead author Naomi Thompson, of Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, said, “With an aging population and increasing numbers of people diagnosed with dementia, music is a relatively straightforward and cost-effective way of improving the quality of life of those affected.”
“Our study not only shows why music therapy is successful – including meeting the person’s need for stimulation, supporting familiarity through memories, encouraging relationship and emotional expression, and crucially helping with the reduction of distress and anxiety – it also paves the way for its wider use in dementia care,” she added.
“Music, in particular recorded music, is an accessible way for staff and families to help manage distress, and music therapists can advise on tailoring music for individuals. Just as a doctor prescribes medications with a specific dose and frequency, a music therapist can outline an individualized program, setting out how music should be used throughout someone’s day to reduce distress and improve their wellbeing.”