Effect of Neurological Music Therapy Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by cognitive decline that exceeds normal age-related changes but does not significantly impair daily life. This condition is a precursor to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and affects emotional well-being and quality of life.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of neurological music therapy (MMT) on cognitive function, emotional well-being, and quality of life in older adults with MCI.Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted over six weeks with 20 participants aged 60-80 years. Participants were randomly assigned to the MMT group, which received exercise therapy with music and the Naruko clapper, or the STT group, which received standard exercise guided by counts. The MoCA and SF-36 were used to assess outcomes. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing paired and independent t-tests with a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: Post-intervention, the MMT group showed a significant improvement in MoCA scores (23.33 ± 2.06) compared to the STT group (18.75 ± 2.61, p < 0.001). SF-36 scores also significantly increased in the MMT group (82.62 ± 6.16) versus the STT group (47.32 ± 11.01, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Neurological music therapy significantly enhanced cognitive and physical health outcomes in older adults with MCI, suggesting its potential as an effective non-pharmacological intervention.