Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of early cognitive rehabilitation combined with music therapy on cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL) and psychology in stroke patients. Methods From March, 2016 to September, 2017, 56 stroke patients were were randomly divided into control group (n = 28) and observation group (n = 28). All the patients accepted early motor and cognitive rehabilitation, the observation group accepted music therapy in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Congnitive Assessment (LOTCA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Results The scores of MMSE, scores of subscales and total scale of LOTCA, and MBI increased in both group after treatment (t > 5.480, P < 0.05), while the scores of SAS and SDS decreased (t > 10.227, P < 0.001). The total scores of MMSE, LOTCA and MBI increased more (t > 2.648, P < 0.05), and the scores of SDS decreased more (t = 2.818, P < 0.05) in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion Combination of music therapy may promote the recovery of cognitive function, ADL and mental health for stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, music therapy, cognition, activities of daily living, anxiety, depression, rehabilitation