The brain still responds to favorite music in dementia
Researchers have discovered that patients with dementia, including Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia, show distinct brain responses to personally meaningful music. This finding suggests that music therapy could be a valuable nonpharmacological tool for improving the well-being of dementia patients.
Why it matters
Understanding how the brain processes music in different types of dementia helps clinicians develop personalized care strategies to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
by Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Graphical Abstract. Credit: Brain Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcag196 What happens in the brain of someone with dementia when they hear music that means something to them? Researchers from Alzheimer Center Amsterdam and the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience mapped how the brain responds to personally meaningful music. They found that favorite music evokes a stronger brain response than neutral music—and that this response differs between types of dementia.
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