Clinical effectiveness of music interventions for dementia and depression in older people (MIDDEL): a multinational, cluster-randomised controlled trial

V Sveinsdottir; J Assmus; J Schneider; FA Baker; B Uçaner; G Kreutz; M Geretsegger; N Rasing; J Bloska; PA Stretton-Smith; YEC Lee; JD Wake; H Odell-Miller; J Tamplin; AC Vink; J Ablewhite; J Neuser; U Frischen; A Timmer; T Wosch; S Janus; C Gold

Journal article

Clinical effectiveness of music interventions for dementia and depression in older people (MIDDEL): a multinational, cluster-randomised controlled trial

V Sveinsdottir, J Assmus, J Schneider, FA Baker, B Uçaner, G Kreutz, M Geretsegger, N Rasing, J Bloska, PA Stretton-Smith, YEC Lee, JD Wake, H Odell-Miller, J Tamplin, AC Vink, J Ablewhite, J Neuser, U Frischen, A Timmer, T Wosch Show all

Lancet Healthy Longevity | Elsevier BV | Published : 2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100783

Open access

Abstract

Background: Dementia and depression are among the leading causes of global disease burden. Effective and scalable interventions are needed to address the effect of these conditions, and music interventions are a promising non-pharmacological approach. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of music interventions on depressive symptoms among care home residents with dementia in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Türkiye, and the UK. Methods: Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in Elderly care was a large, multinational, cluster-randomised controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design to examine the effects of group music therapy, recreational choir sin..

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