Music Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease: Considerations for Implementation in Vietnam

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60-70% of dementia cases. The disease is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive function associated with an excessive number of senile plaques in the cerebral cortex and subcortical gray matter atrophy accompanied by Beta-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles consisting of tau protein. While there has yet to be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, music therapy (MT) has shown promise for reducing a variety of symptoms. For instance, MT was able to reduce agitation, anxiety, and depression as well as aid cognitive, sensory, and socio-emotional abilities. Additionally, MT is easy to implement and well-tolerated by most patients and caregivers. However, MT is currently not widely prescribed in many countries, including Vietnam. We reviewed the literature on MT and dementia, with a focus on AD to better understand factors affecting MT efficacy and barriers to implementing MT for individuals with AD in Vietnam. Further research is warranted to gain a better understanding of factors affecting the efficacy of MT for individuals with AD, with considerations specifically for individuals with AD in Vietnam.