Role of music therapy in improving cognitive function post-traumatic brain injury: a systematic review

Cognitive deficits are one of the most prevalent impairments in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Music therapy has the potential to be a valuable intervention for improving cognitive function. This review aimed to investigate the effects of music therapy on cognitive function in patients with TBI. Scopus, PubMed, REHABDATA, PEDro, EMBASE, and web of science were searched for experimental trials examining the impacts of music therapy on cognition in patients with TBI from inception until December 2022. Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 122 patients with TBI were included in this review, 32% of whom were females. The PEDro scores ranged from four to seven, with a median of five. The findings showed that music therapy could be effective in improving executive function post-TBI, with limited evidence for the effects on memory and attention. Music therapy might be safe in patients with TBI. The evidence for the effect of music therapy on executive function in patients with TBI is promising. Further studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-ups are strongly needed.