According to a new report commissioned jointly by the International Longevity Centre think-tank and the Utley Foundation, the symptoms hundreds thousands sufferers dementia could potentially be alleted a kind a therapy most us inadvertently use everyday – music therapy. The study revealed that music can help people with dementia “recall information and reduce symptoms such as anxiety, agitation and aggression.”
Through a combination existing evidence and expert interviews, researchers were able to determine that music may also “help to delay the onset dementia and improve brain function and information recall.” The commission has now called for music therapy to be introduced and integrated with more priority in the UK where the study revealed that only 5% care homes were using the therapy effectively.
Dr Laura Phipps, Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “NHS guidelines suggest music therapy as a possible way to help people with dementia deal with complex behavioural symptoms. As more studies start to explore the benefits music in dementia, this report highlights the importance developing robust and practical approaches to explore the benefits and cost-effectiveness music interventions, which are ten delivered in very diverse and tailored ways.
“It is vital to explore all avenues to improve the lives people with dementia, as well as ensuring that they can benefit from such developments, and research has an important role to play here.”
