Complementary health approaches that involve music may be helpful for a variety of health conditions. One area where they have shown promise is in managing the symptoms of brain disorders of aging.  

Music-based interventions such as listening to music, singing, playing instruments, or moving to music may improve emotional well-being, behavioral challenges, and quality of life for people with cognitive impairment or dementia. For people with Parkinson’s disease, a technique called rhythmic auditory stimulation can improve the ability to walk by allowing them to synchronize their movements to the rhythm of the sounds. And for people who have had strokes, music-based interventions may improve balance, walking, mood, and some aspects of cognitive function.