Benefits of singing in the dementia context.

Abstract

Background: Pharmacological treatments for managing dementia symptoms have shown limited effectiveness. Psycho-social interventions are typically considered the first option. Recent research highlights singing as a particular beneficial activity for people with dementia. Objective: The objective of this paper is to present a narrative synthesis of the existent literature from January 2019 to June 2024 on the contributions of singing with people with dementia and their family caregivers. Method: A data base search was conducted across three databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect. Manual searches were also performed in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy issues from January 2019 to June 2024, as well as on ResearchGate. This descriptive review included quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies.  Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Narrative syntheses revealed  five main outcome areas: engagement (musical and social), cognitive function (including reminiscence), depression and positive feelings or emotions (as part of well-being), quality of life, and caregiving relationship and/or experience of caring. Conclusions: The results of this review highlight the potential benefits of singing in the well-being of individuals with dementia and their family caregivers, as well as the importance of continued investigation in this field.