Music Therapy Could Be Useful for Treating Dementia

While working toward her second master’s degree on a Fulbright scholarship at UCLA, Tunde Krasznai participated in the Gluck Outreach Program, which promotes engagement with music via cultural activities, community performances, and educational initiatives. As a solo pianist, Tunde Krasznai played for patients in a number of different environments to provide them with music therapy.

Because music is so intricately linked to mood, it is not surprising that it can have therapeutic effects. Music can have such a strong impact on wellbeing that it is often used as part of depression treatment plans. In addition, music is commonly used for stress and anxiety relief. However, music can have other clinical applications.

Research has shown that music therapy may be effective in treating dementia, the loss of cognitive function. People with dementia experience issues with judgment, memory, reasoning, verbal communication, and decision-making. Music therapy can reduce aggression or agitation among people with dementia and can even reduce some of the symptoms of the disease. Some studies also suggest that music therapy can decrease the risk of brain disease and cardiovascular problems in older patients with dementia.