# Can Music Therapy Improve Cognition in Dementia as Measured with Magnetoencephalography: A Hypothesis Study

## TL;DR

This study explores whether music therapy can improve cognition in dementia patients by examining changes in brain connectivity using MEG scans.

## Contribution

The study provides preliminary evidence that music therapy may improve cognition in dementia by activating compensatory neural networks.

## Key findings

- Scores on an n-back task improved after music therapy.
- MEG data showed increased connectivity in neural networks associated with compensation during executive functioning tasks.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: The incidence of dementia and the concurrent burden on healthcare will increase with a population that continues to age. Pharmaceutical interventions for dementia carry negative side effects, ineffectively treat underlying causes, and fail to prevent disease onset. Therefore, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as music therapy should to be explored as a standalone or co-therapy for dementia. Music therapy improves cognitive symptoms of dementia; however, the neural mechanisms underpinning these improvements are not fully understood. Methods: To investigate potential neural mechanisms, six participants with dementia completed the Standardised Mini Mental State Examination, an n-back task, and magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanning before and after a music therapy program structured around improving executive functioning. Results: After music therapy, scores on an n-back task improved, and the MEG data revealed increased connectivity in neural networks and areas associated with compensation during executive functioning tasks. Connectivity results suggest there is preliminary evidence that music therapy improves cognitive symptoms of dementia by activating compensatory neural networks and areas; however, given the small sample size, these results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: The results of this hypotheses study present music therapy as a potentially viable short-term intervention which may operate by targeting compensatory neural networks and could be a long-term intervention that incorporates positive modifiable lifestyle factors, protecting the brain from dementia.