Meta-analysis of the efficacy of interventions for persons living with Alzheimer's disease: The role of music therapy

BackgroundEmerging evidence supports the clinical utility of music therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet robust clinical evidence remains limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to systematically evaluate the multidimensional effects of music therapy on individuals with AD and to identify optimal intervention parameters and cumulative duration thresholds to guide clinical implementation.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review using RevMan 5.4, analyzing 24 randomized controlled trials (n = 2316) from Chinese and English databases up to January 2025.ResultsCompared to controls, music therapy significantly improved cognition (MD = 2.14, 95%CI = 0.88∼3.41, p = 0.0009), reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms (SMD = -0.55, 95%CI = -0.99∼-0.12, p = 0.01) and anxiety (MD = -4.37, 95%CI = -6.68∼-2.06, p = 0.0002), enhanced quality of life (SMD = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.02∼1.01, p = 0.04), and alleviated caregiver burden (SMD = -0.75, 95%CI = -0.94∼-0.55, p < 0.00001). The optimal regimen involved: frequency >3 sessions/week (p = 0.002), duration <40 min/session (p = 0.03), and intervention period ≥12 weeks (p = 0.002). A staged care model progressing from individual to group-based approaches is recommended (all p < 0.05). Minimum cumulative intervention durations for symptom improvement were: ≥1440 min for quality of life, ≥1800 min for behavioral and psychological symptoms, and ≥3360 min for cognition (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsMusic therapy demonstrates multidimensional benefits for persons living with AD, with distinct cumulative dose thresholds required for improving specific clinical symptoms, providing valuable guidance for clinical practice.