As a certified music therapist, I have observed firsthand the many ways music can bring meaning and beauty into people’s lives, even under very difficult circumstances. Much of my clinical work and research has occurred in dementia care. Here, music is often described as an inexpensive non-pharmacological treatment for behavioural and psychological symptoms with no side effects.

I strongly believe that music should hold a central place in dementia care. However, prioritising it as a treatment discounts the wide range of benefits music has to offer. This label also contributes to misinformation and dementia-related stigma.

Photo © The Centre for Ageing Better, UK/Unsplash

Why music?

Music has a unique capability to engage multiple areas of the brain that can function in sync with one another. This includes areas involved in hearing and listening, movement, attention, language, emotion, memory and thinking.

Ongoing research seeks to further understand the mechanisms underlying how music works in the brain. We do know, however, that areas of the brain related to musical memory and engagement are often preserved in persons with dementia. This happens regardless of one’s prior musical knowledge...