Music improves memory of dementia patients, study shows

Research conducted by global electronics company Casio Music UK has revealed that care home residents living with dementia have displayed signs of memory recall after playing the keyboard over a sixth-month period. The Light Up My Life research was conducted alongside charity Music for Dementia and care provider Methodist Homes (MHA).

Casio Music UK supplied its light-up key keyboard (LK-S250) to some of MHA’s specialist dementia care homes. The keyboards were used in music therapy and music activity sessions which included 111 participants in a mix of one-to-one and group sessions. Participants were able to play well-known pieces preloaded into the keyboards without any prior music experience by simply following the lights of the keys.

Neil Evans, head of Casio Electronic Music Instruments, said the company is ‘hopeful that the research and learnings we are revealing today can be used as a springboard to accelerate and improve the accessibility of music and music therapy for those living with dementia and those who care for them, across the nation and worldwide.’

After the six-month research period, the 185 people involved in the initiative, including residents living with dementia, music therapists and care home staff were surveyed, with 79 per cent of music therapists reporting improvement in memory recall amongst the participants. Over 70 per cent of music therapists also saw a reduction in anxiety and depression amongst the residents and 95 per cent of residents reporting feeling happy after completing a song on the keyboard.

You can find out more about the Light Up My Life research here.