Cognitive and emotional benefits of listening to beloved music in individuals with the beginnings of cognitive decline : a mixed-methods study of listening alone or with a loved one

Re-connecting with music people loved when they were younger can dramatically restore cognitive abilities, including memory and executive functions (EFs), and reduce irritation in individuals with dementia (Dingle et al., 2021). However, while music generates immediate improvements, the benefits often fade when the music ends, especially cognitive gains (Moreno-Morales et al., 2020). The current study investigated whether benefits might last longer for individuals experiencing the beginnings of cognitive decline. The goal was to see if engaging with beloved music alone, or with a close friend or relative, improves EFs and mood more than listening to beloved writings or living life as usual, and whether listening to writings is more beneficial than business as usual. Seventy-four adults with early-stage cognitive decline were randomized to one of four groups: (1) engaging with beloved music alone, (2) engaging with beloved music with a close friend or relative, (3) listening to beloved writings alone, and (4) business as usual. Interventions lasted 10 weeks. Assessments of cognition and mood occurred immediately before and after the intervention, and again 2 months later. EFs were assessed using the Flanker/Reverse Flanker and Hearts and Flowers tasks (which assess selective attention, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) and the Design Fluency test (creative problem-solving). Self-reports of cognitive failures were assessed using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. Mood was assessed using the Irritation Scale from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Interviews were conducted to gain insight into participants’ experiences. There were no significant changes in performance on quantitative measures over time between or within groups, thus not supporting our hypotheses. However, in the qualitative interviews, participants in the music interventions tended to report more improved mood, reduced irritability, and enhanced cognition than participants in other groups and non-significant trends in quantitative data were generally consistent with that. Further research with a larger sample, longer intervention, or better outcome measures might find these changes reaching significance. If this intervention proves effective, it may offer older adults an accessible and affordable way to support mood and cognition while awaiting music therapy or where that is unavailable.