How Does Music Therapy Effect Dementia Patients

Worldwide, around 55 million people have dementia, that number is projected to grow to 78 million by 2030, and 139 million in 2050. 

If there is more research done to prove the positive effects that music therapy can have on dementia, there will be more treatments implemented with music therapy as a complimentary medicine

“When words fail, music speaks” 

Evidence-Based Points 

1. The benefits that come from the use of music therapy are a decrease in agitation, depression, aggression, and anxiety, and also an increase in social connection, memory gain, and mood

2. Personalized, recorded music that includes and active, social environment is the best type of music for Dementia patients. 

Practical Implications 

1. You do not need to be a nurse, clinician, or doctor in order to implement the use of music as medicine and can be done in many settings such as the home, hospitals, and nursing homes

2. Music therapy is a cost effective treatment due to equipment being inexpensive and the ease of being able to do it outside of a medical office.

3. Music therapy is a creative, simple approach to a treatment plan that can put families, friends and caregivers at ease by catching a glimpse of what it used to be like before the patient developed Dementia.

Resources to Help and Use

CDC website for more information:

• https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html

Music Therapy Practices and their Websites:

• https://infinitymusictherapy.com/
• https://www.tempotherapy.com/

About the Author: Carly Smith is a senior at Westfield State University studying Movement Science with a concentration of Sports Medicine. She hopes to continue her education to become an Occupational Therapist and can be reached at smithcarly362@gmail.com