Proposed Mechanism of Action for Three Music-Based Interventions for Behavioral and Psychologic Symptoms of Dementia

While music-based interventions are recommended to address the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, the specific aspects of the interventions that led to therapeutic change have yet to be identified. The purpose of this article is to discuss the proposed mechanisms of change of a music-based intervention for ambulation, sleep, and behavioral redirection, connecting basic science to clinical research. These proposed mechanisms of change provide a neuromechanistic framework for understanding what elements of music are essential for the intervention to achieve the desired outcome. The three interventions outlined in this article are part of a novel training program for informal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.