Music in Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation: Are We Heading in the Right Direction?

Abstract

Music is an auditory stimulus of a complex nature, as many perceptive processes develop simultaneously in various areas of the brain. The same brain areas are involved in processing music and movement rhythms, which is why music can be used in the rehabilitation of movement disorders. There is growing evidence that music-assisted treadmill training can be effective in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) gait disorders, as auditory cueing with treadmill training may specifically work on those motor areas, including the cerebellum, that are not affected by the disease. Thus, music-therapy, when properly applied, could pave the way for better management of motor symptoms in PD.