Alaine Reschke-Hernandez

Alaine Reschke-Hernandez, PhD, MT-BC, is an Associate Professor in Music Education and Therapy at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, where she also serves as a REC Scholar. Her primary research focuses on music therapy interventions to improve psychosocial outcomes for individuals with dementia. She leads studies on multimodal music-based therapies for agitation reduction and engagement in severe dementia cases, as well as telehealth frameworks addressing geriatric well-being. Her work emphasizes qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate intervention fidelity and staff-patient outcomes.

Key areas of research include the role of autobiographical memory in emotional responses to music, strategies for enhancing music therapy reporting in dementia studies, and collaborative models integrating music therapy with social work. Her recent studies (2023–2025) highlight innovative service-learning projects and remote care methodologies to combat social isolation in older adults.

Dr. Reschke-Hernandez’s clinical contributions include developing evidence-based practice models for dementia care, published in multiple trials and protocols. She actively collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance geriatric care through music-based interventions, with a focus on translating research into clinical practice.

Her lab, the IMAGN Lab (Imagining Aging and Neurodegenerative Networks), explores intersections of music, memory, and neurocognitive health. Current projects address telehealth innovations, caregiver support systems, and the efficacy of singing versus verbal therapies in dementia settings.