Biological Effects of Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care: A Narrative Review.

ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: Music therapy has a long tradition in palliative care, and recent studies have investigated its Neuro-Psycho-Endocrine-Immunological (NPEI) effects in terminally ill patients. Despite numerous published articles, there is a lack of a compendium connecting the physiological basis of music therapy with the specific musical elements most effective in end-of-life settings. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the physiological mechanisms underlying responses to music, with a focus on terminal patients and implications for nursing practice. Materials and Methods: For quality and possible reproducibility, a narrative review was conducted in accordance with Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Th

SUBMITTER: Terzoni S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12471834 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature