The impact of music-based intervention on cognitive function and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging in people with mild Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Background

With the accelerating global aging population, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to rise, while current pharmacological treatments remain limited in efficacy. Music intervention, as a safe and feasible non-pharmacological approach, has gained increasing clinical attention, though its mechanisms of action remain unclear.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effects of music intervention on cognitive function and brain network connectivity in people with mild AD, and to elucidate its neural mechanisms and provide evidence for clinical practice.

Methods

A total number of 50 AD patients with mild dementia participated in the study. Participants were randomized to music-based intervention group (music-based intervention, 20 min, 3 times/week for 6 months) or control group (standard care). Assessments included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Word Fluency Test (WFT), World Health Organization–University of California, the Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA-AVLT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.

Results

47 participants completed the study. The music-based intervention group showed significant improvements in MoCA, GDS, NPI, WFT, and WHO-UCLA-AVLT scores (p < 0.05), with no change in MMSE. fMRI revealed enhanced frontal-temporal connectivity and increased angular gyrus activity.

Conclusions

Music-based intervention improves cognitive and neuropsychiatric outcomes in people with mild AD, likely through enhanced brain connectivity. This approach is feasible, and it supports the optimization of music-based intervention in clinical practice.