Published on: Dec 05, 2025
Scientists at the University of Auckland are launching a study to explore how music can calm and engage dementia patients, aiming to document its potential as a low-cost therapeutic tool.
Family members know the difference music can make—singing and listening often elicit responses when little else does, says Dr. Samuel Mehr, director of The Music Lab at the University, who will lead the research.
Supported by an $853,000 grant from the Marsden Fund, the project will investigate:
The current role of music in dementia care
Links between music use and the well-being of patients and caregivers
Auditory perception levels in dementia patients
The research will examine which aspects of music perception remain intact as cognitive abilities decline and aims to build scientific evidence for integrating music regularly into dementia care. For Māori with dementia (mate wareware), waiata can play a particularly meaningful role.
Collaborators include Professor Lynette Tippett from the University of Auckland and Dr. Carolyn Fredericks from Yale University, an expert in Alzheimer’s neuroimaging.
Caregivers will provide multiple daily surveys on musical activities, patient mood, distress, and their own well-being, helping to identify connections between music and health outcomes. Short, gamified tests like Tone Guesser from The Music Lab’s citizen science platform will measure patients’ auditory perception in a low-stress, engaging way, avoiding more demanding neuropsychological assessments.
This research could expand the role of music as a tool in dementia care, addressing the growing global challenge posed by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
The Music Lab is a collaboration between the University of Auckland (Waipapa Taumata Rau) and Yale University.
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