OBJECTIVE: Recent reviews on music therapy for people with dementia have been limited to attempting to evaluate whether it is effective, but there is a need for a critical assessment of the literature

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Exploratory meta-analysis of the effect of music intervention on arousal promotion in patients with disorders of consciousness: evidence from controlled studies (2026) · doi

  6 Implications for future research Based on the findings of this study and the characteristics of the included studies, future research should focus on the following aspects. 5 Limitations This study has some limitations. Interactive music therapy and passive music listening should be evaluated separately, and the optimal parameters for each, such as minimum effective duration, frequency, music type, and degree of personalization, should be explored.

  Keywords: music future limitations implications based ndings characteristics included focus following aspects interactive therapy passive listening
• Intentional Uses of Music in Occupational Therapy Practice: The Effectiveness of a Workshop (2024) · doi

  This workshop was created to develop skills related to appropriately using music as supported by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Occupational Therapy Practice Framework-IV, and to address gaps in knowledge regarding how to use music intentionally, effectively, and safely in OT practice.

  Keywords: music occupational therapy practice workshop created develop skills related appropriately using supported american association framework
• Music therapy in dementia: a narrative synthesis systematic review (2012) · doi

  OBJECTIVE: Recent reviews on music therapy for people with dementia have been limited to attempting to evaluate whether it is effective, but there is a need for a critical assessment of the literature to provide insight into the possible mechanisms of actions of music therapy.

  Keywords: music therapy objective recent reviews people dementia limited attempting evaluate whether effective there need critical
• Live Interactive Music Therapy Across the Perioperative Continuum: A Scoping Review (2026) · doi

  This scoping review aimed to map the primary characteristics and impacts of live interactive music therapy delivered by a certified music therapist across the perioperative continuum and identify gaps in the literature to guide future research and practice in perioperative settings.

  Keywords: music perioperative scoping review aimed primary characteristics impacts live interactive therapy delivered certified therapist across