Music Therapy Can Reduce Stress in Advanced Dementia Patients, Study Suggests

A recent study provides new insights into how music can alleviate distress and agitation in individuals with advanced dementia, offering hope for more effective, personalized care. Published in Nature Mental Health, the research highlights the mechanisms behind music therapy’s benefits and provides a framework for its implementation.

According to the study, dementia affects an estimated one million people in the United Kingdom, with over half diagnosed with advanced dementia. This stage often includes challenging behaviors such as agitation, aggression, and resistance to care. The research, led by PhD student, Naomi Thompson of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, reveals that music therapy, when tailored to individual needs, can deliver immediate reductions in anxiety and agitation while boosting engagement, alertness, and mood.

Music therapy, administered by trained professionals, involves singing, playing, or listening to music, the study’s authors said. They explained that music’s effectiveness lies in its ability to provide cognitive and sensory stimulation, activate networks across both hemispheres of the brain, and evoke positive memories. These effects help individuals manage emotions, feel safer in their surroundings, and reduce physiological stress through the autonomic nervous system.

The study found that songs from when individuals were aged 10 to 30 years were particularly impactful, as they tend to evoke strong, positive, and specific memories. The researcher also explained that music facilitates nonverbal communication, creating opportunities for social interaction regardless of cognitive impairment or musical ability.

The study underscored the dual benefits of music therapy for both patients and their caregivers. For individuals with dementia, music provides meaningful interaction, reduces distress, and fosters a sense of familiarity and emotional expression. For caregivers, including family members and professional staff, the study indicated that engaging with music can lower stress levels, enhance empathy, and improve overall wellbeing. Researchers said it also offers new ways to connect with patients, particularly during moments of heightened distress.

To maximize its impact, the study recommends training all healthcare professionals involved in dementia care to use music, regardless of prior experience. Resources such as musical instruments and information on creating personalized playlists should be widely available, and families should be encouraged to incorporate music into their care strategies.

“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,” said Thompson. “Our study not only shows why music therapy is successful—including meeting the person’s need for stimulation, supporting familiarity through memories, encouraging relationships 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.”

The study, which combined a systematic review of existing research, a national survey of healthcare professionals, and interviews with staff and music therapists, offers a robust foundation for the broader adoption of music therapy. It emphasizes the need for personalized approaches, with music therapists designing individual programs akin to prescribing medication, a practice that could become a vital tool in dementia care.