Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40629265›Full record

SynthesisBMC geriatrics2025

Efficacy of music therapy as a non-pharmacological measure to support alzheimer's disease patients: a systematic review.

Jia Wang, Cong Liu, Ying Dai, Can Mei, Guiping Wang, Yong Wang, Tao Huang, Jianbo Zhan, Jing Cheng

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jia Wang *School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Cong Liu *Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
Ying Dai *Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
Can MeiSchool of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Guiping WangSchool of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Yong WangSchool of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Tao HuangHuanggang City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huanggang, Hubei, 438021, China.
Jianbo ZhanHubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
Jing ChengSchool of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Huangjiahu West Road, Wuhan, 430065, China. chengjing84@wust.edu.cn.

Funding

Health Commission of Hubei Province scientific research project WJ2023M107Key Laboratory Open Fund of Ministry of Education College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project S202410488180X,202310488043XMinistry of Education 2023KF002Occupational Hazard Identification and control Key laboratory of Hubei Province open fund OHIC2024G07, OHIC2024Z04
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive memory degradation and language and behavior disorders. Apart from curative pharmacological therapies, music therapy (MT) has been diffusely used as an efficient and economical non-pharmacological treatment for AD patients in recent years.

methodsThree databases (PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO) were searched to analyse the efficacy of MT in patients with AD. Keywords included "Alzheimer's disease", "AD", "Mild Cognitive Impairment", "MCI", "music" and "music therapy".

resultsLiteratures between January 2013 and January 2023 were selected, with 42 literatures included in the study, which highlights the beneficial impact of MT on cognition (memory, attention, language), behavioural and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression and agitation), quality of life, self-esteem and physical pain in AD patients.

conclusionMT is a promising non-pharmacological treatment approach for individuals living with AD. However, further evidences from prospective, randomised, blinded, uniform, and rigorous method-logical investigations in this field are required to conclusively validate MT's impact on this disease. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251034039.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseMusic TherapyCognitive DysfunctionHumansQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeAlzheimer's diseaseCognitionMusic therapyNon-pharmacological interventionSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40629265
PMCPMC12235852

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.