Global trends, research hotspots, and clinical evidence mapping of music therapy interventions for cognitive impairment: a bibliometric and visualization analysis from 2006 to 2026.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is an important public health issue in ageing societies. Music therapy, as a safe and accessible non-pharmacological intervention, has been increasingly used in the management of cognitive impairment. However, the overall research pattern, evolution of research hotspots, and features of clinical evidence in this field have not been systematically reviewed. This study aimed to analyze the current status, major topics, and development trends of research on music therapy interventions for cognitive impairment from 2006 to 2026. METHODS: A stratified multi-database search strategy was used. The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) served as the main data source. Bibliometric and visualization analyses were performed using Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. The Scopus database was also used to cross-validate key findings. In addition, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved from PubMed were analyzed to further assess the clinical evidence base. RESULTS: A total of 835 publications were included from WoSCC. From 2006 to 2025, the annual number of publications increased steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 13.35%. The publication output reached its peak in 2025, and the exponential model showed a good fit to the growth trend (R 2 = 0.913). The United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia were the leading contributing countries, while institutions such as the University of Melbourne made notable contributions. The main research topics focused on dementia, music therapy, Alzheimer's disease, quality of life, and cognitive dysfunction. Over time, research hotspots have extended toward cognitive improvement, long-term care, and neuroplasticity-related mechanisms. A total of 250 RCTs were identified from PubMed, indicating a growing body of clinical evidence. CONCLUSION: Research on music therapy interventions for cognitive impairment has shown continuous growth. Core topics mainly involve cognitive function, behavioral symptoms, quality of life, and care support. Mechanistic studies, especially those related to neuroplasticity, have become an important research frontier. Future studies should place greater emphasis on high-quality clinical research, clarify the mechanisms of music therapy, and promote its precise application and clinical translation.