People with dementia should be given music and dance therapy, health secretary says

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy People suffering from dementia should be given music or dance therapy, according to the Health Secretary. Earlier this year, NHS England announced its plan to expand the use of music for dementia patients to expand “social prescribing” - a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Last year, research published by the International Longevity Centre UK and the Utley Foundation found that music has significant physical and mental health benefits for those with dementia and help to increase social interaction and decreasing stress hormones “Analysis showed that music helps to significantly minimise some of the symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, and can help to tackle anxiety and depression,” says Sally Greengross, chief executive of the ILC. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In September 2018, the BBC announced its new website BBC Music Memories which aims to help connect dementia patients with songs from the past.