The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia. It is caused by the degeneration of brain cells due to the accumulation of intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau - containing neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular plaques...

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Main Authors: Dominka Rehan, Joanna Szydziak, Aleksandra Hrapkowicz, Kinga Janowska, Olga Szeidl, Julia Wołoszczak, Agnieszka Mioskowska, Daria Dąbkowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kazimierz Wielki University 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Education, Health and Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/56407
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author Dominka Rehan
Joanna Szydziak
Aleksandra Hrapkowicz
Kinga Janowska
Olga Szeidl
Julia Wołoszczak
Julia Wołoszczak
Agnieszka Mioskowska
Daria Dąbkowska
author_facet Dominka Rehan
Joanna Szydziak
Aleksandra Hrapkowicz
Kinga Janowska
Olga Szeidl
Julia Wołoszczak
Julia Wołoszczak
Agnieszka Mioskowska
Daria Dąbkowska
author_sort Dominka Rehan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia. It is caused by the degeneration of brain cells due to the accumulation of intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau - containing neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular plaques of amyloid-beta peptide. While pharmacotherapy remains the main form of treatment (including cholinesterase inhibitors and antagonists to NMDA), various non-pharmacological therapy modalities have gained increasing attention as complementary treatment options, such as music therapy. Purpose of the study: This review examines the role of music therapy as an important complement to baseline therapy for AD patients, focusing on indications, methods, and the prospect of music therapy. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing 48 studies from the PubMed database (English-language, up to November 2024) that assess the efficacy, methods, and prospect of music therapy as an adjunctive therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Music therapy is an established and effective supportive treatment for AD patients. It has demonstrated clinical success over many years as a tool for engaging multiple motor and sensory areas, shaping emotions, and evoking memories. This may be due to activating limbic and paralimbic structures, enhancing neuroplasticity, and modulating neurotransmitter systems. Despite the observable benefits of music therapy, the methodological limitations of existing studies highlight the need for further long-term research to standardize treatment approaches.    
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spelling doaj-art-d341c665b83d4160815351a6799075072025-08-20T02:39:04ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062024-12-017610.12775/JEHS.2024.76.56407The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's diseaseDominka Rehan0Joanna Szydziak1Aleksandra Hrapkowicz2Kinga Janowska3Olga Szeidl4Julia Wołoszczak5Julia Wołoszczak6Agnieszka Mioskowska7Daria Dąbkowska8Lower Silesian Center for Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Plac Ludwika Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wrocław, PolandJ. Gromkowski Provincial Specialist Hospital, Koszarowa 5, 51-149 Wrocław, PolandT. Marciniak Lower Silesia Specialist Hospital–Centre for Medical Emergency, A.E. Fieldorfa 2, 54-049 Wrocław, PolandJ. Gromkowski Provincial Specialist Hospital, Koszarowa 5, 51-149 Wrocław, PolandDr. Antoni Jurasz University Hospital No. 1, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094, Bydgoszcz4 Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SP ZOZ, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland4 Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SP ZOZ, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, PolandUniversity Clinical Center in Gdańsk, ul. Dębinki 7, 80-952 Gdańsk, PolandInfant Jesus Clinical Hospital in Warsaw, Williama Heerleina Lindleya 4, 02-005 WarsawIntroduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia. It is caused by the degeneration of brain cells due to the accumulation of intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau - containing neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular plaques of amyloid-beta peptide. While pharmacotherapy remains the main form of treatment (including cholinesterase inhibitors and antagonists to NMDA), various non-pharmacological therapy modalities have gained increasing attention as complementary treatment options, such as music therapy. Purpose of the study: This review examines the role of music therapy as an important complement to baseline therapy for AD patients, focusing on indications, methods, and the prospect of music therapy. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing 48 studies from the PubMed database (English-language, up to November 2024) that assess the efficacy, methods, and prospect of music therapy as an adjunctive therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Music therapy is an established and effective supportive treatment for AD patients. It has demonstrated clinical success over many years as a tool for engaging multiple motor and sensory areas, shaping emotions, and evoking memories. This may be due to activating limbic and paralimbic structures, enhancing neuroplasticity, and modulating neurotransmitter systems. Despite the observable benefits of music therapy, the methodological limitations of existing studies highlight the need for further long-term research to standardize treatment approaches.     https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/56407Alzheimer’s diseaseMusic TherapyNon-pharmacological treatmentNew Therapy
spellingShingle Dominka Rehan
Joanna Szydziak
Aleksandra Hrapkowicz
Kinga Janowska
Olga Szeidl
Julia Wołoszczak
Julia Wołoszczak
Agnieszka Mioskowska
Daria Dąbkowska
The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Journal of Education, Health and Sport
Alzheimer’s disease
Music Therapy
Non-pharmacological treatment
New Therapy
title The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
title_full The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
title_fullStr The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
title_full_unstemmed The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
title_short The effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
title_sort effectiveness of music therapy for the treatment of alzheimer s disease
topic Alzheimer’s disease
Music Therapy
Non-pharmacological treatment
New Therapy
url https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/56407
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