The Transformative Power of Music Therapy for Dementia and Depression

From the archives: December 2024

Adults with dementia can also suffer from depression. For these adults, these depressive symptoms can be further aggravated with an admission to a skilled nursing facility. While some medicine may be necessary, the literature suggests that music may be a wonderful medium to use in the treatment of dementia and depression symptoms. 

There is also research to suggest that group music therapy and choral singing have positive effects on adults with dementia and depression. More research is always needed to further solidify the significance of these findings. In this article, a group of researchers set out to identify a way to research the effectiveness of these music therapy interventions within a multinational setting. Within group music therapy, a participant's psychosocial needs are addressed with the hopes of reducing depression and improving their emotional and social wellbeing. Choral singing also fosters psychosocial well being with connectedness with their fellow nursing home residents and their caregivers. 

The researchers indicated that there are several things to keep in mind for this study to take place. Firstly, the intention of music intervention is to support and maintain quality of life, social experiences, and well being while being specific to the participants. All interventions should be as person specific and use patient-preferred music as much as possible as it relates to the desired goals being met.  Secondly, session structure, goals, materials, and the adaptations within the sessions will all vary. The researchers also noted that more studies need to be conducted in order to determine when group music interventions are most effective and when individual sessions may be the most beneficial. 

For more information on music therapy, visit our website at www.centralohiomusictherapy.com or the American Music Therapy Association’s website at www.musictherapy.org.

Josie McCutcheon, MT-BC

Senior Music Therapist

Central Ohio Music Therapy, LLC

Gold, C., Eickholt, J., Assmus, J., Stige, B., Wake, J. D., Baker, F. A., Tamplin, J., Clark, I., Lee, Y. C., Jacobsen, S. L., Ridder, H. M. O., Kreutz, G., Muthesius, D., Wosch, T., Ceccato, E., Raglio, A., Ruggeri, M., Vink, A., Zuidema, S., Odell-Miller, H., Orrell, M., Shneider, J., Kubiak, J., Romeo, R., Geretsegger, M. (2019). Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in Elderly care (MIDDEL): protocol and statistical analysis plan for a multinational cluster-randomized trial. BMJ open, 9(3), e023436. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023436