Music for Dementia

That this House notes the wonderful work carried out by Music for Dementia with the rising number of dementia patients; highlights that there are approximately 885,000 people with dementia in the UK and that by 2040 it is predicted that this figure will almost double to 1.6 million; highlights that music therapy has been shown to be the best type of therapy for reducing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and that if reduces agitation and need for medication by 67 per cent; further highlights that singing in residential homes can halve anxiety and depression levels can fall by 40 per cent; and calls on the health trusts throughout the UK to take on board this research and deliver music programmes as standard in care and residential homes with dementia patients.