Across healthcare settings, clinicians and caregivers are increasingly turning to evidence-supported, non-pharmacological interventions to address the complex needs of older adults living with dementia and other cognitive or physical challenges. Among these interventions, personalized music has emerged as one of the most effective and scalable tools for supporting connection, reducing behavioral symptoms, and improving overall quality of life.
Research from neurology, gerontology, and rehabilitation science has repeatedly demonstrated that familiar music engages distributed neural networks involved in memory, attention, motor planning, and emotional regulation. Even when other cognitive pathways are compromised, musical memory systems – particularly those tied to personal identity and autobiographical experience – remain comparatively preserved. As a result, a carefully curated playlist can help stabilize mood, decrease agitation, enhance social engagement, and support meaningful participation in daily care routines.
For more than a decade, Music & Memory, now a core program of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), has been at the forefront of translating this science into everyday practice. Our work has helped thousands of care communities integrate personalized music into their clinical workflows, train staff in best practices, and build sustainable models of person-centered care. As the field continues to shift toward non-pharmacological interventions and quality-of-life metrics, this approach is increasingly recognized not as an optional program but as a standard of care for dementia support.
This Giving Tuesday, we are focusing on expanding access to these evidence-informed tools for caregivers, families, and healthcare teams. Every contribution helps us develop new training resources, strengthen implementation support, and continue advocating for music-based interventions as a fundamental component of dementia care, accessible, person-centered, and grounded in clinical insight.
If you believe in advancing high-quality, evidence-based care for older adults, we invite you to join us in furthering this work.
Thank you for believing in the power of music!