The impact of music listening intervention on Asia elderly with dementia: a systematic review

Eur J Med Res. 2023 Nov 21;28(1):535. doi: 10.1186/s40001-023-01355-5.

Abstract

From an initial pool of 2303 studies, ten eligible and potential studies were selected through rigor inclusion and exclusion criteria for this systematic review to examine music therapy's effect on dementia. The review included 967 participants, with the majority being female. A significant number of studies were conducted in Taiwan. Although several cognitive ability assessment methods were employed in the selected studies, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was the most commonly used tool for evaluating the effects of music therapy on dementia. Overall, the current review demonstrates that music therapy can be a valuable strategy for treating patients with dementia, with its outcomes including improved cognitive function and potentially slowing the progression of the disease's severity. Therefore, this study can significantly contribute to future studies and practices aimed at using music therapy to treat dementia.

Keywords: China, older adults; Dementia; Mini-Mental State Examination; Music therapy.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asia
  • Cognition
  • Dementia* / psychology
  • Dementia* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Music Therapy* / methods
  • Music*