Playing music to patients with dementia helps them to remember autobiographical details, say researchers from the University of London, in the UK. Elizabeth Valentine and Nicholas Foster investigated the recall of personal facts in 23 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia. The patients were asked autobiographical questions in each of four auditory background conditions one week apart: quiet, cafeteria noise, familiar music, and novel music. Results showed that music significantly improved the patients recall ability, with an autobiographical recall of 61% in quiet conditions compared to one of 68% when music was playing. The researchers concluded that music should be played when physicians are trying to obtain information from patients with dementia.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.thelancet.com Web edition of volume 357, issue 9249, 6th January 2001
