Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease often characterized by memory loss, confusion, and overall cognitive decline. The aging global population has, in recent years, highlighted the fundamental lack of pharmacological treatments for individuals facing an AD diagnosis. In response, a growing body of research has shifted focus to non-pharmacological humanities-based interventions. One such intervention has been music therapy (MT). Music-focused measures have shown great promise as a method of slowing cognitive decline, but mixed results in the literature warrant the need for further investigation. Often, socioeconomic barriers can limit an individual’s access to drug-related treatments, but the affordable and straightforward nature of music therapy circumvents these issues and further establishes the prospect for widespread use. In particular, these measures have been shown to rescue episodic and semantic memory, and due to their non-invasive nature, can be utilized as a proactive treatment strategy for young individuals at a higher risk for cognitive decline. This review aims to showcase the efficacy of music therapy as a novel humanities-based approach to AD management and indirect mechanism for improving emotional well-being.
Erratum
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/KUJHH.01.01
Recommended Citation
Desai, Rohan K.
(2024)
"Harmonious Healing: A Review of Music Therapy, a Humanities-Based Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment,"
Kentucky Undergraduate Journal for the Health Humanities: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
Available at:
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kujhh/vol1/iss1/1
