Music, Memory & AI: A Breakthrough in Dementia Care on World Alzheimer’s Day
Playlist Maker users David and Huguette
This World Alzheimer’s Day, we’re proud to announce a major milestone in our journey: a ground-breaking collaboration with Cambridge Consultants that explores how human-centred AI can help shape the future of dementia care. And with this year’s theme – “Never too early, never too late” – the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Create a playlist for someone you love
At Music for my Mind, our Playlist Maker has already been embraced by more than 1,300 families. By creating playlists based on people’s formative teenage years, we’ve seen transformative benefits for those living with memory loss or dementia. In our own research, 90% of respondents reported a positive lift in mood, while 77% experienced reduced anxiety. Families tell us the playlists help trigger precious memories, ease stress, and strengthen connections with loved ones.
But we knew there was a bigger challenge ahead. Our traditional approach – using trained service providers to observe one‑hour music sessions with each person – simply couldn’t scale. At that pace, it would take more than a century to reach the million people currently living with dementia in the UK.
That’s why we turned to Cambridge Consultants (CC). Together, we began exploring how advances in AI, data science, and human‑centred design could help us meet this scaling challenge, and ultimately bring the benefits of personalised music to far more families, far more quickly.
Human-centred AI meets the power of music
CC analysed MFMM’s dataset listener sessions, using an AI system that integrates advanced techniques to detect subtle behavioural cues – such as facial expressions and body language – that might indicate how a person is responding to music, even when they can no longer express preferences verbally. CC built a robust data processing pipeline and developed a new AI-powered application that streamlined MFMM’s process of collecting, analysing, and refining Playlist Maker feedback.
As Joe Corrigan, Head of Technology, AI in Healthcare at Cambridge Consultants, explains:
“This ground-breaking work has helped illuminate a path forward, allowing for systematic and decisive steps to be taken to improve the dataset, which will in turn result in more accurate AI models that MFMM can deploy."
Playlist Maker users Margaret and Husband Phillip
Why this matters for dementia care
For families navigating the challenges of dementia, finding ways to connect can feel overwhelming. Music offers a bridge – a way to reach loved ones when other forms of communication falter.
This project shows that AI in dementia care doesn’t have to be clinical or impersonal.
As Professor Keith McAdam, Founder and Chair of Music for My Mind, shared:
“This collaboration has demonstrated the potential of AI to enhance the emotional impact of music for people living with dementia. It’s a powerful step forward in personalised care.”
Announced on World Alzheimer’s Day 2025
We’re especially proud to share this news on World Alzheimer’s Day, a global moment to raise awareness and drive change. This year’s theme – “Never too early, never too late” – reminds us that it’s never too late to innovate, and never too early to start building tools that support families.
Our collaboration with Cambridge Consultants is a testament to that belief. It’s a bold step toward a future where AI tools for dementia are designed not just to manage symptoms, but to nurture connection.
Try the Playlist Maker today
While this new technology is still in development, our existing Playlist Maker is already helping families create personalised music experiences that improve the well-being of loved ones with dementia or memory loss.
It’s free, easy to use, and built on the same principle: that music can unlock memories, reduce anxiety, and bring people closer.
Create your playlist today and see the difference it makes.
