Research
The medicinal power of music therapy in aged care
By Tuned Global
Music in the medicine and research space has proved to have significant therapeutic benefits in aged care, treating conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD and ADHD. Now, with the evolution of music technology and AI, the potential to heal the mind through music has become even more powerful.
At a recent industry event, three experts sat down to discuss this exciting and complex space and to explore how in trying to bring these treatments to patients or the broader market, the not-so-common intersection of medtech and music surfaces a number of challenges.
Music therapy powered by AI
Felicity Baker
Music therapy itself is not new, and therapists have been delivering such interventions in one-on-one sessions and small groups for decades.
The exciting prospect highlighted during the session was that technology and AI can now enable this at scale and with evidence-based approach.
If more people can gain access to music treatment through technology, there is the potential to decrease medication intake, reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes.
However, scaling these therapies does introduce new considerations and challenges that traditional clinical settings have not had to face.
Felicity Baker is a music therapist, professor at the University of Melbourne and Founder of Matchplus.ai, a sensor-based AI solution that detects early physiological markers of agitation and delivers personalised music interventions to improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia and other cognitive conditions.
With over three decades of experience in dementia care and music therapy, Baker is leading this project at prototype stage to reduce distress, medication reliance and create a more enabling environment for individuals with cognitive decline.
Having successfully secured USD $1.3m from Google.org (the philanthropic arm of Google LLC) to develop scalable technology, Baker has become one of just 15 recipients worldwide from more than 800 applications.
“We’re using wearables to actually develop algorithms that can predict when someone is going to start wandering or is going to get up and have a fall or hit another resident in the nursing home,” she said.
“We’ve got it down to between five and 15 minutes, so a carer or family member can anticipate that something’s going to happen.”
Baker said using AI to help preempt when to use music was one thing, but then what order the music should come in, what kind of music and how to be sensitive to the specific symptoms of people with dementia created further challenges they continue to work on.
Simone Dalla Bella, co-director of the BRAMS laboratory at the University of Montreal is conducting research focused on rhythm interventions for patients with various disorders, including Parkinson’s disease.
Simone Dalla Bella
The interventions include rhythmic serious games such as Beat Workers, and mobile apps such as BeatMove, developed by the start-up BeatHealth that Dalla Bella co-founded. For example, BeatMove can adjust music tempo to help Parkinson’s patients walk more effectively.
“Imagine that you have music in the background that you chose, and the music is going a bit faster than you, so it motivates you to run a bit faster.
“But then if you’re tired and you slow down, the music will follow you gently as if you were running or walking with a theoretical partner,” he said.
“A clinical trial is currently ongoing in France to test a large group of patients with Parkinson’s who basically take the app outside in a park, they use it, and we are seeing beneficial effects of that kind of intervention.”
Navigating Licensing Challenges
The prospect of music-powered therapy is rather inspiring and life-affirming. Providing outcomes for patients with debilitating conditions in a non-invasive way is certainly a noble cause for academics and entrepreneurs alike to take up.
However, what many might not have considered is how these medical applications acquire and manage music rights.
Virginie Chelles, VP and Global Head of Marketing and Communications for music licensing and technology company Tuned Global, described the complexity facing these innovators.
In working with medical technology clients, Chelles highlighted that while founders deeply understand the science and tech behind their products and projects, they often have no knowledge of music industry operations.
“When it comes to us, there is a whole new industry, being the music industry which has little or no connection with the medical industry, [which in itself also] has a lot of regulation,” she said.
In the medical music space, Tuned Global currently works with MediMusic, a UK startup that uses AI to analyse brain responses and select music for anxiety and pain management.
Companies like MediMusic are obviously performing powerful and important work, but in cases where they are not up to speed on all of the requirements to correctly licence music, they are adding layers of risk to an already compliance-heavy environment.
Virginie Chelles
“They’re dealing with the legal side of medicine in being able to have it delivered in NHS Hospitals in the UK, and going for trials and all that is involved.
“There is a lot of paperwork to do there,” Chelles said.
“But then, if they play the wrong track, [a] track that was not licensed, the business is in trouble.
“[They would be looking at lawsuits], and they wouldn’t be paying the rights to the right people.
“There are master rights, there’s publishing rights. [So they think], ‘How do I do that? How do I find the right tracks?’.”
Often in these kinds of apps, an AI personalisation solution will drive the selection of tracks that resonate with certain patients, so another challenge for medtech clients in knowing the extent of what other tracks they will need access to.
Companies must also consider whether their licenses permit training medical algorithms on music assets.
“Thousands of tracks are released every day, and [if you look at what’s being produced] with AI. It’s even more,” she said.
“Many companies don’t need millions of tracks. If you work on dementia, just working on a back catalogue, like the catalog that makes sense for these people when they were in their 20s.
“For us, it helped us to understand what you need to license the right catalog, rather than millions of tracks, because accessing millions of tracks is a lot of money in storage and in processing.”
Addressing music licensing early in tech development
For medtech companies wanting to leverage music, Chelles was direct about the challenges and decisions they face when they first approach music licensing.
A lot of consideration needs to be made about how much music they need, what kind, whether they need commercial music or production music and more.
When MediMusic first engaged Tuned Global, these considerations presented a big challenge.
“Because licensing music is not a science. It’s not predictable, but we can definitely help,” she said.
Elaborating further, Chelles said that companies tended to be more successful when they addressed music licensing early in development rather than treating it as an afterthought.
“It’s going to take as much time to build the music and the licensing and compliance technology as building your medical device or app or science behind it,”
“Talk to a music expert early on, it can be us, but it can also be entertainment lawyers or licensing specialists that are going to be able to help from the beginning … to just understand what it is about.
“We can also help them to build their business case to pitch to those labels, because this can be quite strategic depending on the label and their current objectives. Making big pitches without understanding them or the broader environment could cost a lot of time and money if they don’t sign you up right away.
“Being able to demonstrate and communicate value in this industry on the industry’s terms is really important for success, so if you can work with people that have these relationships and can engage with them it’s very helpful.”
Working with an established music technology company can help medtech startups navigate label negotiations.
Labels recognise that companies already working with licensing specialists have typically secured funding and understand the commercial requirements.
“[The labels are] like, okay, they are legit, because if Tuned Global can work with them, they already have the funding and they understand what they’re doing,” Chelles said.
Securing licensing agreements is only the first step. Companies then need backend technology to access the actual tracks.
Tuned Global maintains 190 million tracks, with the catalog growing daily. Companies must negotiate separately with both master rights holders (the record labels) and publishers who represent musicians and writers.
Commercialising music therapies
Neither researcher came from a background that prepared them for music industry negotiations. Despite publishing in The Lancet and Nature and securing major medical research grants, Baker found music licensing remained unfamiliar territory.
Dalla Bella received more than $USD 3.5m in European research funding but similarly had no training in navigating music rights.
Startup activity at universities is growing, but this has not always been the case.
Baker noted that while the institutions themselves were very supportive and really wanted to push research innovations into the market, there still exists some commercialisation stigmas among some researchers.
“For some researchers, commercialising your research is kind of almost like a dirty word.
“To them it’s like you’re not being true to the science if you want to actually make a company and do something with this,” she said.
Dalla Bella described how moving from pure research into commercial applications required stepping outside his comfort zone.
“Sometimes in science, we’re very closed, right? We do work just in science, in our niche, we are happy with what we do, but then you have to go beyond your comfort zone to start to work with engineers and start to work with a startup company,” he said.
“[I’ve seen for a lot of people] it took time to build this collaboration, this common language, and to be able to work together. After a certain amount of time, you discover the real potential of doing that.”
The future of AI-powered music therapy in aged care
The medical music technology sector is an exciting and expanding space for aged care.
As more innovators enter the industry, the intersection between healthcare regulation and music licensing will likely require more standardised frameworks and understanding of the complexities so they aren’t bogged down or exposed to complications that could cut their journey to provide care short.
For now, companies navigating both industries must build relationships with experts in each domain.
The medical science may be groundbreaking, but without proper music licensing infrastructure, therapeutic applications cannot reach patients or compensate the artists whose work makes treatment possible.
About Tuned Global
Tuned Global is the leading data-driven cloud and software platform that empowers businesses to integrate commercial music into their apps or launch complete streaming experiences using advanced APIs, real-time analytics, licensing solutions, and customisable white-label apps.
Our turnkey solutions for music, audio, and video — coupled with a broad ecosystem of third-party music tech integrations — make us the most comprehensive platform for powering any digital music project.
We streamline complexities in licensing, rights management, and content delivery, enabling rapid innovation and bringing new ideas to life.
Since 2011, we’ve supported 40+ companies in 70+ countries — across telecom, fitness, media, aviation, and more — to deliver innovative music experiences faster and more cost-effectively. For more information, visit www.tunedglobal.com.
NICE will review whether new Alzheimer’s drugs should be offered on the NHS after an appeal found their wider impact was not fully counted.
An appeal found that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence had failed to properly account for the wider impact of the treatments, including the heavy burden on unpaid carers, when calculating the cost effectiveness of the medicines.
Both treatments, lecanemab and donanemab, will now return to a NICE committee for further consideration.
“Today’s ruling is an opportunity for NICE to consider the real cost of Alzheimer’s on people and their families, and we welcome the decision to look again at whether new medicines could be provided on the NHS,” said David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Lecanemab and donanemab do not cure Alzheimer’s, but they slow it by targeting and clearing clumps of amyloid proteins, sticky protein build-ups in the brain linked to the disease.
While the drugs are available privately in the UK for people who can afford them, NICE ruled last year that they were too expensive to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales.
It is estimated informal dementia care costs the economy more than £20bn a year.
Alzheimer’s Research UK wants NICE to update how it assesses the value of new dementia drugs and factor in the huge additional costs this condition places on society and the wider economy.
NICE and its expert committees assess whether new drugs are good value for money for the NHS based on a wide range of evidence.
This includes how treatments perform in clinical trials, the experiences of patients and carers, and the costs of new drugs as well as any changes to NHS services needed to provide access.
When NICE weighs up whether a new Alzheimer’s drug is cost effective for the NHS, it carries out a limited assessment of the impact dementia has on the health of carers.
But the condition takes an enormous toll on families and society because caring for someone with dementia can lead people to become more isolated and give up work.
It can have a major emotional impact and put families under financial strain.
Thomas said: “Research has delivered new treatments with the potential to provide people with valuable extra months of independence, lessening the burden on carers.
“While these treatments offer modest benefits and can cause serious side effects, they provide the foundation for a future where dementia becomes a treatable condition.
“Now we need NICE to look again at how these medicines could benefit both people with early Alzheimer’s and their carers.”
Chris, whose mother Shirley is living with Alzheimer’s disease, said: “The real cost of Alzheimer’s is far greater than many people realise.
“In order to give my mum the care she needed, I moved back home to help my dad as the care was too much for him alone. After my dad passed away from Covid in 2021, I became sole carer for my mum.
“It was a very difficult period, working a full-time job, caring for Mum and dealing with the loss of my dad. Eventually I got some in-home care support to help.
“The family has borne most of the cost of Mum’s care, both in time and fees, and the family home has been sold to finance it.”
“The emotional and financial strain Alzheimer’s has taken on our family is horrendous, and I know many families across the UK are experiencing this pressure.”
He is backing Alzheimer’s Research UK’s call for NICE to change how it evaluates new dementia treatments.
The timeframe for the next NICE meetings to discuss the drugs is still to be set, and it is not certain follow-up hearings would change NICE’s guidance on access to the medicines.
But Alzheimer’s Research UK is continuing to push to make sure dementia is now a main priority for political and NHS decision-makers.
The head of the ongoing independent review into adult social care, Baroness Louise Casey, has called on the government to act, show leadership and prioritise dementia.
She has proposed appointing a dementia tsar to drive forward the prevention, treatment and care of dementia.
Baroness Casey has also argued for more funding for dementia treatment trials.
With more than 130 Alzheimer’s drugs in clinical trials worldwide, the charity says it is vital the NHS runs trials of new treatments now to understand how to deliver them to eligible patients in future.
In addition to changing how NICE assesses new medicines, the health service needs to collect real-world evidence on new dementia drugs and prepare for diagnostic tests and innovative treatments that are coming.
“Alzheimer’s Research UK is calling on the government to give dementia the same political determination that transformed cancer care,” Thomas said.
“We urgently need investment and a clear UK-wide plan so new treatments can be assessed in the NHS and reach the people who stand to benefit.”
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has said dementia is “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and pledged that the UK should become a world leader in dementia clinical trials.
Osteoporosis drugs may lower dementia risk, with a study suggesting one widely used treatment could help prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
The research found that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, drugs widely used to treat osteoporosis, may significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in older adults with osteoporosis or fragility fractures.
Osteoporosis and dementia often coexist in older adults and share several risk factors, including advanced age, female sex and reduced physical activity.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong’s department of pharmacology and pharmacy carried out a large study using the city’s electronic medical records, covering more than 120,000 patients aged 60 and above with osteoporosis or fragility fractures between 2005 and 2020.
The team found that NBP users had a 16 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias than untreated patients, and a 24 per cent lower risk than those who received other osteoporosis medicines.
The association was especially marked in women and patients with hip fractures.
The researchers estimated that treating 48 patients with NBPs for five years could potentially prevent one case of dementia, underlining the possible public health value of NBPs in high-risk groups.
Professor Cheung Ching-lung, associate professor in the department of pharmacology and pharmacy at the University of Hong Kong, said: “Our study provides evidence that NBPs may offer dual benefits in strengthening bones and reducing fracture risk, as well as potentially preventing ADRD.
“Their potential neuroprotective role provides an empirical basis and supports future research on the actual effectiveness of this medication in preventing or delaying cognitive decline associated with ADRD.
“These findings are significant as they demonstrate a potential approach for reducing dementia risk in a vulnerable population using safe and widely available NBPs.
“In our rapidly ageing society, these findings suggest that while waiting for the novel therapies, existing medications can also provide additional protection for high-risk populations.”
The same research team has previously found that osteoporosis and fractures are independent risk factors for dementia, and that patients with dementia are at higher risk of falls and fractures.
This suggests treating osteoporosis may also help reduce the burden of dementia.
NBPs, including alendronate and zoledronate, are well established and commonly prescribed osteoporosis drugs.
Emerging biological research suggests the pathways affected by NBPs may also play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, raising the possibility that they could be repurposed for prevention.
A prebiotic fibre supplement may ease arthritis pain and improve grip strength in people with knee osteoarthritis, a study suggests.
The daily supplement, made from inulin, a dietary fibre found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes and other vegetables, also lowered pain sensitivity and saw fewer people drop out than a digital physiotherapy programme tested alongside it.
Dr Afroditi Kouraki, lead author of the study from the University of Nottingham, said: ‘Our findings suggest that targeting gut health with a prebiotic supplement is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective way to reduce pain in people with knee osteoarthritis.
“The very low dropout rate compared to the exercise group is also encouraging from a public health perspective, people were able to fit this supplement easily into their daily lives.’
Osteoarthritis of the knee, a wear-and-tear joint condition, affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of pain and disability, particularly in older adults.
Current treatments rely heavily on pain medication, which can cause side effects, or exercise programmes, which many patients find hard to maintain.
The INSPIRE trial, led by researchers at the University of Nottingham, involved 117 adults with knee osteoarthritis and tested four groups: inulin alone, digital physiotherapy-supported exercise alone, a combination of both, and a placebo. Both inulin and physiotherapy independently reduced knee pain.
However, inulin alone improved grip strength and reduced pain sensitivity, measures linked to how the nervous system processes pain, while physiotherapy did not.
The dropout rate for those taking the supplement was just 3.6 per cent, compared with 21 per cent for the physiotherapy group, suggesting a daily supplement may be easier for people to stick with than an exercise programme.
Inulin works as a prebiotic, meaning it feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut.
This leads to the production of compounds called short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, which can affect inflammation and pain pathways throughout the body.
Participants taking inulin also showed increased levels of both butyrate and GLP-1, a gut hormone linked to pain regulation and muscle health.
Higher GLP-1 levels were associated with improved grip strength, pointing to a possible gut-muscle connection.
Senior author Professor Ana Valdes added: ‘The link we observed between GLP-1 and grip strength is particularly intriguing and points to a broader gut-muscle-pain axis that warrants further investigation. This could have implications not just for osteoarthritis, but for understanding how gut health influences ageing and physical resilience more broadly.’
Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Arthritis UK, said: “The pain of arthritis can severely impact quality of life. Our recent lived experience survey showed that six in ten people are living in pain most or all of the time due to their arthritis.
“Researchers are starting to explore the role of the gut microbiome in our experience of pain.
“This exciting preliminary research highlights how diet and physiotherapy can act in different ways to have benefits for people with arthritis.
“We know a variety and balance of healthy foods, including fibre, and regular physical activity matter, and we’re glad to be supporting research that explores how they work to help people with arthritis.”
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