Music Therapy for Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes in Mild Dementia: A Randomized Trial

Background: Dementia is a neurological syndrome that deteriorates cognition, function, and behavior across different age groups. Music Therapy (MT) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention in improving those outcomes. The objective is to test MT on depression, cognitive function, daily activities, apathy, memory, and Quality of Life (QoL) in middle-to-older adults with mild dementia. Methods: A 12-week Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) involved 83 middle-to-older adults from three nursing homes in China. Participants were randomly allocated, with 41 in the Intervention Group (IG) receiving 12-week MT and 42 in the Control Group (CG) receiving routine care. Outcome was evaluated before and after the intervention by validated scales. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). The primary outcomes (depression, apathy, and disruptive behavior) revealed significant improvements in IG (all p < 0.05). Secondary outcomes, including cognitive function, memory, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and QoL, showed significant improvement in IG. Conclusions: MT should be included in care plan of middle-to-older adults in nursing homes and social service settings. Future works should conduct a longitudinal study, multicenter designs, concentrate on moderate and severe dementia, and compare different MT approaches.