Mozart piano sonata reduces epileptic seizures in children

 A piece of Mozart’s piano music can help children with epilepsy, researchers have found.

His Sonata for Two Pianos in D major (K448) greatly reduced the frequency of epileptic activity in the brain, EEG tests revealed at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

No effect was found when other music was played to children – including tunes by The Teletubbies, The Singing Kettle and Busted.

Even other piano music by the Austrian composer didn’t have the same effect.

Around one in 240 children under the age of 16 in the UK have epilepsy. But in 20-40 per cent of cases, drug treatment does not adequately control seizures.

The research, published in the journal Seizure, found “a significant reduction” in epileptic activity when listening to Mozart.

“There is great potential to further investigate this effect and the possible use of music as a therapy for epilepsy in children, as well as adults,” researchers said.