AAIC 2017 | The benefits of home-based singing and music therapy

Several studies have examined the effect of music interventions on dementia patients, however these have mostly focused on patients in the later stages of dementia, and typically use a professional to apply the intervention. Here, Teppo Särkämö, PhD from the Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland discusses a recent study which examined the effect of music and singing therapy when applied to an early-stage dementia patient by their caregiver. Dr Särkämö talks us through the way in which the study was carried out, and the interesting results they obtained. This interview was recorded at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) held in London, UK.