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Behavioural Intervention

Museum Visits for Aging (HeART-BRAIN Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Research Sponsored by Louis Bherer

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Presenting normal or corrected vision and hearing

Men/women aged 50 and over

Must not have

Score on the telephone version of the MMSE < 19

Psychiatric or neurological diagnosis

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up before and after the 6 weeks of interventions

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will examine how museum visits can improve psychological and cardiovascular health in older adults, by having them interact with artworks in a self-reflexive manner.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for men and women aged 50 or older with normal vision and hearing, who have visited museums no more than six times a year. They may or may not have controlled atrial fibrillation but should not be experts in visual arts. Excluded are those with significant depression, cognitive impairment, psychiatric or neurological diagnoses, or major physical limitations affecting mobility.

What is being tested?

The study compares two museum visit interventions to see how they affect psychological and heart health in older adults. One group first experiences visits focused on personal feelings towards art (well-being intervention), then traditional museum tours; the other group does this in reverse order.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves cultural activities rather than medical treatments, there aren't typical side effects like you'd expect from drugs. However, participants might experience fatigue or emotional responses due to the nature of introspective art engagement.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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My vision and hearing are normal or corrected to normal.

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I am 50 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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My memory and thinking test score is below 19.

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I have a psychiatric or neurological condition.

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I have major difficulties standing or walking on my own.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ before and after the 6 weeks of interventions

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~before and after the 6 weeks of interventions

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and before and after the 6 weeks of interventions for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Change in the activity evoked within the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during the contemplation of artwork

Secondary study objectives

Change in the activity evoked within the medial prefrontal cortex during the contemplation of artwork

Other study objectives

Change in Depressive symptomatology

Change in Heart rate

Change in Perceived social support

+11 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Well-Being Museum interventionExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

The well-being intervention comprises six weeks of weekly museum visits, performed in groups of 10 participants. The well-being approach is based on the support of a museum mediator. His role is to help visitors to develop a more personal and sensitive understanding of artworks. To do this, he encourages the expression of feelings, impressions, and interpretations of the artwork, and supports exchanges within the group of visitors. With the mediator's support, the participants should be able to adopt a more subjective approach to the artwork, favoring their engagement when contemplating it.

Group II: Classic Museum interventionActive Control2 Interventions

The classic intervention comprises six weeks of weekly museum visits, performed in groups of 10 participants. The classic museum session will be performed according to what is typically provided to visitors as part of a guided visit to the museum. Each visit will be accompanied by a volunteer guide trained in art history. He will guide participants across artworks and provide information about art pieces, the artist, and the historical context. The volunteer guide will provide context and informative content about the artwork without intending to influence the discussions and the visitor's apprehension of the artwork.

0 / 5Eligibility criteria met