Healing the Brain with Music: The Truth About 60-80 BPM - Latest RCT Reveals "Effective Conditions and Ineffective Conditions"

A multicenter randomized controlled trial (DDM) published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined the effects of slow-tempo music (60-80 BPM) as a delirium intervention in elderly patients under mechanical ventilation in the ICU. The intervention, conducted twice daily for up to seven days, did not show significant differences in increasing the number of days free from delirium and coma, or in reducing delirium severity, pain, and anxiety. However, there was a trend towards improvement in patients who received music more than seven times or who were exposed to benzodiazepines, suggesting that optimizing the target population, timing, and dosage is key. The intervention was safe, and its feasibility was confirmed with dose tracking possible via an iPad app. On social media, there were many practical comments such as "personalization is essential" and "priority should be given to environmental adjustments." Future research is shifting focus towards **“how to make it effective”**, involving music therapists, preference-based design, and longer-term interventions.