Please see the Music Therapy and Dementia Evidence Base for detailed information
How does Music Therapy Help?
‘Music might provide an alternative entry point to the brain, because it can unlock so many different doors into an injured or ill brain. Pitch, harmony, melody, rhythm, and emotion (all components of music) engage different regions of the brain, and many of those same regions are also important in speech, movement, and social interaction’ (Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, Harvard University Neurologist)
Music Therapy offers three core components: music; a psychotherapist; and a safe space.
These form a ‘three legged stool’ insofar as if one ‘leg’ were to break the whole entity wouldn’t work effectively. The ways in which a Music Therapist works will differ depending on the client and the clinical outcomes often relate to reducing behavioural and psychological symptoms.
Here Are Several Examples of How Music Can Help in Music Therapy (Music Therapy is an individualised service, so therapists work uniquely with each client):
- Music can be used to allow the client to reconnect with memory and identity whilst offering a rewarding social experience.
- Music may also be used to provide a soothing and safe experience for the client by offering ‘familiar ground’ to a client who may be anxious or unsettled.
- Music can help reduce fear in clients who are experiencing hallucinations and/or delusions.
- Certain songs may offer clients opportunities to express their feelings of grief over a lost partner or offer an experience of being heard through singing or playing.
- Singing, instrument playing and moving to music can provide opportunities to celebrate the abilities that the client still has and for them to ‘get it right’ and be validated.
- Singing may be encouraged in order to maintain and exercise existing verbal ability.
Research has shown the many benefits that music can have for a person living with dementia.
- MRI scans have shown the many different brain areas that are used when playing or listening which can make music a rich experience and an invaluable form of mental stimulation.
- Research is also growing to support that music can influence health through neurochemical changes in the areas of:
- Reward, motivation and pleasure
- Stress and arousal
- Immunity
- Social connection
(Neurochemistry of Music, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Vol 17, 2013)
Recent published research projects have said:
‘This is an important study which validates our use of music therapy within dementia care homes. Residents’ mood, alertness and engagement significantly improved and behaviours such as agitation, depression, anxiety and aggression were reduced. (Hsu et al, 2015 – Study at MHA)
‘We found that agitation disruptiveness decreased and we therefore recommend music therapy as a valid treatment of agitation and as a possibility to reduce psychotropic medication, as well as to prevent caregiver burnout.’ (Ridder et al, 2013 – Study from Aalbory University, Denmark )
‘Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience. Music evokes emotion and emotion can bring with it memory…music brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can. (Dr. Oliver Sacks, Neurologist)