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We’ve Long Known that Music Eases Pain. Now, Science Is Proving It. | News Channel 3-12
UK, JUL 17 – The MELODIC music therapy pilot on NHS dementia wards improved emotional well-being and reduced distress without adverse effects, costing just £2,025 monthly, researchers said.
- On two NHS dementia wards in Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, researchers piloted the MELODIC approach, and scientists said it may reduce distress in dementia patients.
- With limited drug options, Naomi Thompson noted, `People with dementia on inpatient mental health wards are often experiencing very high levels of distress, and staff are under immense pressure to manage this in ways that are safe and compassionate`, highlighting her role as a researcher at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University.
- Safety monitoring confirmed no adverse events were reported related to the music therapy interventions, while quality-of-life scores revealed slight improvements and reduced distress.
- Research and development director Dr. Ben Underwood said `Some people with dementia can get so confused and distressed that we need to admit them to hospital to keep them safe`, adding `I am very excited that it may now be possible for NHS staff to improve their experience on dementia wards using the power of music`, and noted music therapy as an alternative to psychotropic drugs.
- Future rollouts may be affordable and scalable, with just over £2,000 per month and potential to improve care for vulnerable patients on NHS dementia wards.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Doctors used music instead of medication—what they saw in dementia patients was remarkable
A groundbreaking pilot in NHS dementia wards is using live music therapy—called MELODIC—to ease patient distress without relying on drugs. Developed by researchers and clinicians with input from patients and families, this low-cost approach embeds music therapists directly into care teams. Early results show improved patient wellbeing and less disruptive behavior, sparking hope for wider NHS adoption.
Playing an Instrument Could Protect Against Cognitive Aging, Study Reveals
Older musicians exhibit brain activity patterns during speech perception that resemble those typically seen in younger individuals. A recent study published in PLOS Biology suggests that playing music for many years may help older adults retain their ability to understand speech in noisy environments. The research, led by Claude Alain of the Baycrest Academy for [...]
We’ve long known that music eases pain. Now, science is proving it. | News Channel 3-12
SeventyFour // Shutterstock We’ve long known that music eases pain. Now, science is proving it. At the University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, cancer patients can ask for an unusual medicine: Could a guitar player come and play a tune by their bedside, like the Beatles’ “Let it Be”? “We have empirical evidence that shows music can help reduce a person’s pain perception,” says Seneca Block, director of Expressive Therapies at University Hospital…
A study in older adults revealed that sustained practice helps maintain brain efficiency and facilitates hearing comprehension in noisy environments, a capacity that decreases with age
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