The use of music to decrease agitated behaviour of the demented elderly: the state of the science

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatry
• Music Therapy

Background:

• Agitated behavior is a common and challenging symptom in elderly individuals with dementia.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to manage behavioral disturbances in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing scientific literature on music therapy interventions for reducing agitated behavior in elderly individuals with dementia.
• To identify the effectiveness and limitations of current music therapy research in this area.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted using computerized databases.
• Seven research articles investigating music therapy for agitation in dementia were identified and reviewed.

Main Results:

• The reviewed literature suggests music therapy is a potentially useful intervention for managing various behavioral problems in dementia patients.
• Significant weaknesses and limitations were found across the included studies.

Conclusions:

• Music therapy shows promise for reducing agitation in elderly individuals with dementia.
• More rigorous research designs are needed to establish the immediate and sustained physiological, psychological, and sociological effects.
• Recommendations for future research directions are provided.