Music-Based Interventions for Alzheimer's Disease
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 65+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Southern California
Disqualifiers: Severe hearing loss, Neurological, Psychiatric, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 4 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
Using a randomized controlled trial design, the investigators will examine the effects of music engagement through choir training on the hearing, communication, and psychosocial well-being of older adults, particularly those at heightened risk of developing dementia.
Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of music-based interventions for Alzheimer's disease?
Is music therapy safe for people with Alzheimer's disease?
How is music therapy different from other treatments for Alzheimer's disease?
Music therapy is unique because it uses music to stimulate cognitive activities, improve mood, and enhance social interaction, potentially reducing the need for medications like tranquilizers and hypnotics. It can also help Alzheimer's patients recall past experiences and reduce anxiety and depression, offering a non-drug approach to managing symptoms.12345
Eligibility Criteria
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.Inclusion Criteria
I can see and hear well, with glasses or hearing aids if needed.
Language Proficiency: Fluency in English to ensure complete testing
Exclusion Criteria
Cognitive Function: Impaired cognitive function, indicated by a score of less than 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Hearing Loss: Severe hearing loss not correctable with aids
Medical Conditions: Unstable or serious medical conditions that could limit participation in assessments or weekly meetings
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Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants engage in either a community choir program or a music listening program for 16 weeks
16 weeks
16 visits (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
4 weeks
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Music-Based Interventions (Behavioral Intervention)
Trial OverviewThe 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.
Participant Groups
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.
Music-Based Interventions is already approved in European Union, United States, Australia, Canada for the following indications:
๐ช๐บ Approved in European Union as Music Therapy for:
- Alzheimer's disease management
- Dementia symptom relief
- Cognitive function improvement
๐บ๐ธ Approved in United States as Music-Based Interventions for:
- Behavioral symptom management in dementia
- Improvement in communication and caregiver relationships
- Enhancement of emotional well-being
๐ฆ๐บ Approved in Australia as Music Therapy for:
- Reduction of agitation and apathy in dementia
- Improvement in quality of life
๐จ๐ฆ Approved in Canada as Music-Based Interventions for:
- Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Enhancement of cognitive function
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Southern CaliforniaLead Sponsor
References
[Music therapy and Alzheimer disease]. [2014]Music therapy and Alzheimer's dementia. Dementia such as Alzheimer's leads to the deterioration of the patient's global capacities. The cognitive disorders associated with it are disabling and affect every area of the patient's life. Every therapy's session undertaken with and by patients can act as a mirror of the progress of their disease and help to feel better, as described in this article on music therapy.
Alzheimer's disease: rhythm, timing and music as therapy. [2022]Active music-making provides a form of therapy for the Alzheimer's patient which may stimulate cognitive activities such that areas subject to progressive failure are maintained. Anecdotal evidence suggests that quality of life of Alzheimer's patients is significantly improved with music therapy, accompanied by the overall social benefits of acceptance and sense of belonging gained by communicating with others. Music therapy, when based on clear treatment objectives can reduce the individual prescription of tranquilizing medication, reduce the use of hypnotics and help overall goals of rehabilitation. Mood improvement and self-expression, the stimulation of speech and organisation of mental processes; and sensory stimulation and motor integration are promoted. Given that the rate of deterioration in Alzheimer's disease is not predictable, a series of single case experimental designs would generate valuable empirical data concerning treatment outcome and promote basic research into the timing functions required for the co-ordination of cognition, physiology, motor ability and the integrity of behaviour.
An overview of the use of music therapy in the context of Alzheimer's disease: a report of a French expert group. [2022]The aim of this overview is to present the developments of music therapy in France, its techniques, mechanisms and principal indications, mainly in the context of Alzheimer's disease.
[Impact of music therapy on anxiety and depression for patients with Alzheimer's disease and on the burden felt by the main caregiver (feasibility study)]. [2009]The impact of music therapy on dementia care for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well-recognized. Music alters the different components of the disease through sensory, cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social impacts. The academic aspect of music therapy in this area was based on the fact that music can alter the various components of the overall evolution of this disease. We found around 10 case studies presenting various results from receptive music therapy sessions on patients with Alzheimer's disease. The results of these studies point out the interest of music therapy in the multidisciplinary care of Alzheimer's disease and its related syndromes. It has been deemed useful for significantly reducing the medication given to AD patients. A music therapy protocol, specifically tailored to the patient's needs has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety, depression and aggressiveness in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This technique has also demonstrated its impact on helping AD patients recall their previous life experience.
The music therapy assessment tool in Alzheimer's patients. [2019]1. Empirical research is needed to evaluate immediate and sustained physiological, psychological, and psychosocial therapeutic effects, if any, of music therapy on behavioral patterns of elderly institutionalized Alzheimer's patients. 2. The Music Therapy Assessment Tool (MTAT) was specifically designed and developed to assess the effects of music therapy on behavioral patterns of Alzheimer's disease patients. 3. Preliminary testing of the MTAT suggests that it has fairly high internal consistency and inter-rater reliability and warrants consideration as a research tool. 4. Musical intervention included familiar music to facilitate communication and socialization, ethnic and nostalgic music to stimulate reminiscence, and melodies with distinctive rhythmic patterns to enhance movement and behavioral repatterning.
Music therapy for dementia symptoms. [2018]While music/music therapy does not represent a treatment of dementia, its use is based on a possible beneficial effect on symptoms including social, emotional and cognitive skills and for decreasing behavioral problems of individuals with dementias. Thus, there are clear implications for patients' and caregivers' quality of life. However, quantification and documentation of the evidence of this effect is necessary. Professional music therapists are accountable for providing efficient, beneficial treatment. Further, music therapists are responsible for assessing, designing and implementing music therapy treatments, monitoring client progress, and reformulating their practice according to data collected and new advancements in the field. If they wait until sufficient valid, empirical data on all aspects of a disability or music response are available before attempting to design a therapy session, they may well reach retirement age before even one client can be served. On the other hand, promulgating the efficacy of music therapy in general, or of specific music therapy techniques, in the absence of any substantiation other than intuition or tradition borders on professional recklessness.
Music therapy for dementia symptoms. [2020]While music/music therapy does not represent a treatment of dementia, its use is based on a possible beneficial effect on symptoms including social, emotional and cognitive skills and for decreasing behavioral problems of individuals with dementias. Thus, there are clear implications for patients' and caregivers' quality of life. However, quantification and documentation of the evidence of this effect is necessary. Professional music therapists are accountable for providing efficient, beneficial treatment. Furthermore, music therapists are responsible for assessing, designing and implementing music therapy treatments, monitoring client progress, and reformulating their practice according to data collected and new advancements in the field. If they wait until sufficient valid, empirical data on all aspects of a disability or music response are available before attempting to design a therapy session, they may well reach retirement age before even one client can be served. On the other hand, promulgating the efficacy of music therapy in general, or of specific music therapy techniques, in the absence of any substantiation other than intuition or tradition borders on professional recklessness.
Adjunct effect of music therapy on cognition in Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan: a pilot study. [2020]Music therapy (MT) reviews have found beneficial effects on behaviors and social interaction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but inconsistent effects on cognition. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the adjunct effect of long-term and home-based MT in AD patients under pharmacological treatment.