The study included interviews with staff and music therapists at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, alongside a systematic review and a nationwide survey of healthcare professionals, in collaboration with Dementia UK.

One of the key recommendations from the study is to train music therapists to educate other healthcare professionals on effectively using music in dementia care, while also ensuring access to resources like instruments and personalized playlists.

As a nonverbal form of communication, music fosters social interaction among patients, caregivers, and staff, making it accessible to individuals regardless of their cognitive impairment.

Familiar music, particularly songs from a person's youth, can evoke memories more quickly and positively, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effects of music therapy.

In the U.K., around one million people are living with dementia, with more than half diagnosed with advanced dementia, which necessitates specialized care due to challenging behaviors such as agitation and aggression.

Music therapy, which can include singing, playing, or listening to music, is a tailored approach that has shown to reduce agitation and anxiety while improving attention, alertness, and mood in dementia patients.

This form of therapy is highlighted as a straightforward and cost-effective strategy for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with dementia, especially as the aging population continues to grow.

Dr. Ben Underwood emphasizes the need for effective methods to alleviate distress in advanced dementia patients and expresses enthusiasm for the study's contributions to NHS dementia care.

The research, led by Naomi Thompson from Anglia Ruskin University, represents the first realist review of music therapy in dementia care, merging academic research with insights from stakeholders to develop guidelines for personalized music interventions.

Experts advocate for the broader integration of music therapy within NHS dementia care, recognizing its potential to manage distress in advanced dementia patients.