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Behavioral Intervention

Music-Based Interventions for Alzheimer's Disease

N/A
Recruiting
Research Sponsored by University of Southern California
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 65 years old
Must not have
Neurological and Otologic Conditions: History of known neurological or otologic conditions
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 16 weeks
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial will study how participating in choir training and engaging with music can improve hearing, communication, and overall well-being in older adults, especially those at risk of dementia.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for older adults with good vision and hearing (aided if necessary) who speak English fluently. It's especially aimed at those at risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, to see how music activities like choir singing or group listening might help with communication and well-being.
What is being tested?
The study is testing whether joining a choir or participating in group music listening sessions can improve hearing, speech perception, reduce anxiety, and enhance social behavior in older adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to these activities to measure the effects.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves non-medical interventions such as singing in a choir or listening to music together, side effects are minimal but may include fatigue from participation or emotional responses due to the nature of musical engagement.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I have a history of brain or ear conditions.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~16 weeks
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 16 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Speech in Noise Perception ( SIN) as measured by QuickSIN
Secondary study objectives
Interest in Life as measured by Apathy Short Form measure from NIH Toolbox
Loneliness as measured by NIH Toolbox Loneliness Short Form
Self-Efficacy as measured by NIH Toolbox Self-Efficacy Short Form
Other study objectives
Anxiety as measured by State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults
Auditory Encoding as measured by auditory evoked potentials N1, P2 and P3 (EEG)

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: ChoirExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
For each choir session, the choir director will be supported by an accompanist who will provide the music accompaniment for the songs and four section leaders who will provide musical leadership for choral sections (soprano, alto tenor \& bass). At the beginning of each choir group, participants will be asked about their favorite songs to help ensure that the music will be appropriate for the participants' interest and cultural background. Each choir group will rehearse once a week for two hours with a short break in the middle for snacks for a total of 16 consecutive weeks. The choir rehearsals will follow a general routine, beginning with announcements and warm-ups, work on the repertoire, a break, additional work on the repertoire in sections, and a short group practice at the end. Participants will also be given at-home activities, in the form of pre-recorded videos and music theory exercises to complete outside of class for an estimated 1.5 hours per week.
Group II: Music ListeningActive Control1 Intervention
Over the course of 16-weeks, the group will meet for two hours per week to talk about a set of musical recordings. Recorded music will be previously assigned and provided as a playlist via a web platform to track the time duration of engagement. Regular attendance will be required. The discussion group will meet as a full group each week to listen to a subset of that week's recordings, with a guided and brief discussion after each of the six selected songs. The group will then pause for a brief break and will divide into four smaller discussion groups where a volunteer facilitator from that group would guide a discussion about the selected music, to include personal reflections, its cultural context, and ideas around societal impacts.

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Who is running the clinical trial?

University of Southern CaliforniaLead Sponsor
936 Previous Clinical Trials
1,613,415 Total Patients Enrolled
~44 spots leftby Dec 2025
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