# Cognitive enhancement through music therapy: meta-analytic evidence across clinical population

## TL;DR

Music therapy, especially passive listening, can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults, with recent studies showing even better results due to improved methods and technology.

## Contribution

This meta-analysis provides robust evidence that music therapy improves cognitive function in clinical populations, with a focus on passive listening and recent methodological advancements.

## Key findings

- Music therapy significantly improves cognitive function (SMD = 0.46) in clinical populations.
- Passive listening-based therapies for over 3 months show larger cognitive improvements (SMD = 0.62).
- Recent non-RCT studies show larger effects due to larger sample sizes and technological advancements.

## Abstract

Cognitive decline in aging populations presents a growing public health concern. Music therapy has emerged as a promising non-invasive approach to enhance cognitive function.

This meta-analysis synthesized data from 14 studies (2010–2025) assessing Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) outcomes following music therapy interventions.

Results revealed a significant improvement in cognitive function (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.67), particularly with passive listening-based therapies administered for more than 3 months (SMD = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.05 to 1.20). Furthermore, non-RCT study designs and publications made after 2019 showed larger effects due to larger sample sizes and technological advancements. These findings support the hypothesis that auditory-based music therapy may facilitate neuroplasticity via modulation of the dopaminergic system and default mode network connectivity. The results underscore the therapeutic potential of music-based interventions as accessible, scalable, and non-invasive strategies for cognitive enhancement across diverse clinical populations.

Music therapy, especially passive listening interventions, shows significant promise for improving cognitive function in aging populations. Larger effects in recent non-RCT studies likely reflect technological advancements and improved methodologies. Future research should standardize protocols, examine long-term outcomes, and investigate the neurobiological mechanisms, particularly dopaminergic modulation and default mode network changes, to optimize therapeutic strategies and validate music therapy’s role in cognitive health.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251004837, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420251004837).