Study Highlights How Music Can Reduce Distress in Patients with Advanced Dementia - Video

A new study published in the journal Nature Mental Health, reveals the different benefits of music therapy, identifies mechanisms to explain why music can have these effects, and provides a blueprint for implementing effective music therapy for people with advanced dementia.

The research shows that if music therapy is designed to individual needs, it can deliver an immediate, short-term reduction in agitation and

anxiety for individuals with advanced dementia, and improvements in attention, engagement, alertness and mood. Musical interactions can help people feel safer and more orientated in their surroundings, which can lower levels of distress and improve wellbeing.

The study recommends that music therapists train other professionals, ensuring all staff involved in the care of people with advanced dementia can use music, regardless of their experience. Resources, including musical instruments and information about how to produce personalised playlists, should be available, and families should be encouraged to use music to support their relatives.

Engaging in music may also benefit care staff and family members by reducing their levels of stress and improving their wellbeing.

The study involved interviews with staff and music therapists on inpatient mental health dementia wards at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, a systematic review of published research, and a national survey of healthcare professionals. The researchers also collaborated with the dementia specialist nursing charity Dementia UK.

Reference: Thompson, N., Odell-Miller, H., Underwood, B.R. et al. How and why music therapy reduces distress and improves well-being in advanced dementia care: a realist review. Nat. Mental Health 2, 1532–1542 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00342-x