Effects of music therapy on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

An overview of systematic reviews of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

“…This effect was only found post-intervention and it was not significant at six-month follow-up after the intervention had ceased (4 studies, SMD 0.00, 95% CI −0.16 to 0.16). Music therapy had a moderate effect size (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.82 to −0.17) based on low-quality evidence (Ueda et al, 2013). Three non-pharmacological interventions were not represented in Figure 2 and are summarized in Table 2.…”

“…Psychological therapy (Orgeta et al, 2014) "Psychological treatments for people with dementia appear to be safe, with no adverse events reported in the literature." Music therapy (Ueda, 2013) No data on adverse events were reported.…”

Music therapy in patients with dementia and behavioral disturbance on an inpatient psychiatry unit: results from a pilot randomized controlled study

“…It is possible that the study was further underpowered as previous research indicates effect sizes of MT equal to approximately half an SD (Ueda et al, 2013), requiring a sample of 55 participants in each arm. However, we felt that a single SD difference would be considered more clinically relevant.…”

Music and Brain Plasticity: How Sounds Trigger Neurogenerative Adaptations

“…Music, furthermore, has been reported to improve also the well-being and cognitive functions in healthy adults, such as autobiographical memory, semantic memory, language ability and cognitive functions, and to alleviate neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation, apathy, depression and anxiety (see [39] for an overview). Effects of music on AD are exemplary of the mechanisms that might mediate the impact of music on human well-being.…”

“…The behavioural correlates of these differences are multiple and can be seen especially in childhood (e.g., [38]). Besides, it has been shown that music may be beneficial in relation to a number of symptoms in several kinds of impairment, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and senile dementia (see [39] for an overview). Hence, it is possible to conceive of dealing with music in educational, clinical and therapeutic terms.…”