Abstract
Although a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has yet to be discovered, several non-pharmacological treatments can improve patients’ quality of life and provide temporary relief from the disabling symptoms. One of these treatments is music therapy. This systematic literature review evaluates the existing research on the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and music therapy, with a narrowed focus on familiar music therapy, the potential mechanisms of action that explain the efficacy of this intervention, and the resulting nursing implications that may be utilized in practice. A search of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database returned 13 articles, which were analyzed and compared based on their level of evidence (LOE), sample size, intervention, outcome measures, results, and limitations. The results of the literature review affirm a clear relationship between music therapy and improved memory and cognition.
Recommended Citation
Guess, H. (2018). Alzheimer’s disease and the impact of music therapy: A systematic literature review. James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal, 5(1), 11-20. Retrieved from http://commons.lib.jmu.edu/jmurj/vol5/ iss1/2
