Does Music Intervention Improve Anxiety in Dementia Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Music interventions (MIs) have been widely used to relieve anxiety in dementia in clinical settings. However, limited meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic has been conducted so far. A systematic search was conducted in four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for data provided by RCTs from the inception to February 2023. The search strategy employed the terms “anxiety AND music AND dementia OR Alzheimer’s disease”. Thirteen RCTs (827 participants) were included. The results showed MI reduced anxiety significantly (SMD = −0.67, p < 0.001), especially for Alzheimer’s disease (p = 0.007) and Mixed (p < 0.001)-type dementia. Moreover, significant improvements in agitation (p = 0.021) and depression (p < 0.001) in dementia were observed. Additionally, several psychological mechanisms which may be associated with MI were reviewed comprehensively. In conclusion, our findings support the efficacy of MI in alleviating anxiety symptoms in dementia patients. PROSPERO Registration (ID: CRD42021276646).

Causes and Therapy of Depression Posing Risk to Alzheimer's: A Comprehensive Review

“…The comprehensive assessment provided by NMA is invaluable for clinicians and caregivers in formulating tailored music therapy prescriptions, enhancing the quality of life for patients with dementiarelated depression [27].…”

Nurse-Implemented Music Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in Community-Dwelling Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: A Pilot Study

“…Practically, all these studies report a positive effect of music therapy, with different levels of influence depending on the targeted population. In the same vein, various meta-reviews [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] point out that music therapy affects patients' outcomes, and can be considered a non-pharmacological instrument to reduce anxiety and stress.…”