Music Based Interventions

Background: Around 57 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with dementia, and its prevalence is steadily increasing as the population ages (World Health Organization, 2025). Evidence suggests that in individuals with dementia, listening to music may
trigger positive memories (Zhang et al., 2025). This can contribute to improved engagement and reduction in agitation, which is a frequent and challenging behavioural disturbance for residents in long-term care settings. Aim: To systematically review evidence
on the effect of music therapy on agitation in people with dementia in long-term care settings. Research Design: A systematic review of four databases via EBSCOhost was conducted to identify, appraise and synthesise relevant evidence. Included studies were randomised rials involving people with dementia in long-term care that used music therapy or music-based interventions, with all five included being music-based interventions rather than clinical music therapy, and measured agitation with validated or standardised tools. Five studies met criteria and were included in a narrative synthesis due to variation in intervention type and delivery. Results: The findings regarding efficacy for agitation were mixed. Some studies reported improvements, particularly with personalised or individualised interventions, with greater effects for verbal than physical agitation. Other studies found no statistically significant improvement, suggesting music-based interventions are not universally effective and outcomes may be influenced by delivery and implementation. Conclusion: Music therapy, when understood broadly to include music-based interventions, may be a promising low-risk and person-centred approach for supporting some people with dementia experiencing agitation, but it should not be viewed as a universally effective intervention. In practice, such approaches should be personalised, integrated into individualised care plans, and used alongside clinical assessment. Further research is needed to identify which residents benefit most, which forms of agitation respond best, and how these interventions can be delivered consistently in long-term care settings.

Background: Around 57 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with dementia, and its prevalence is steadily increasing as the population ages (World Health Organization, 2025). Evidence suggests that in individuals with dementia, listening to music may
trigger positive memories (Zhang et al., 2025). This can contribute to improved engagement and reduction in agitation, which is a frequent and challenging behavioural disturbance for residents in long-term care settings. Aim: To systematically review evidence
on the effect of music therapy on agitation in people with dementia in long-term care settings. Research Design: A systematic review of four databases via EBSCOhost was conducted to identify, appraise and synthesise relevant evidence. Included studies were randomised rials involving people with dementia in long-term care that used music therapy or music-based interventions, with all five included being music-based interventions rather than clinical music therapy, and measured agitation with validated or standardised tools. Five studies met criteria and were included in a narrative synthesis due to variation in intervention type and delivery. Results: The findings regarding efficacy for agitation were mixed. Some studies reported improvements, particularly with personalised or individualised interventions, with greater effects for verbal than physical agitation. Other studies found no statistically significant improvement, suggesting music-based interventions are not universally effective and outcomes may be influenced by delivery and implementation. Conclusion: Music therapy, when understood broadly to include music-based interventions, may be a promising low-risk and person-centred approach for supporting some people with dementia experiencing agitation, but it should not be viewed as a universally effective intervention. In practice, such approaches should be personalised, integrated into individualised care plans, and used alongside clinical assessment. Further research is needed to identify which residents benefit most, which forms of agitation respond best, and how these interventions can be delivered consistently in long-term care settings.