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Ukulele Playing for Multiple Sclerosis

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Carolyn Phillips, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of Texas at Austin

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

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

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will explore if music can help people with MS improve cognitive and emotional well-being.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have been diagnosed at least 6 months ago and experience cognitive issues. Participants must be able to read, write, and understand English, and have access to a computer with Zoom. Professional musicians or those with other neurological conditions causing cognitive impairment cannot join.

What is being tested?

The study tests an online musical training intervention (MTI) against music listening (ML) to see if it can improve cognition, emotional well-being, and quality of life in MS patients over three months. It also explores whether brain activity before the intervention predicts cognitive outcomes after.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves non-pharmaceutical interventions like music training and listening, significant side effects are not expected. However, participants may experience varying levels of engagement or emotional responses due to personal preferences or sensitivities.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

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

Primary study objectives

Intervention Acceptability

Intervention Feasibility

Secondary study objectives

Mean Change from Baseline in Anxiety Scores at 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Mean Change from Baseline in Attention Scores at 12 weeks and 16 weeks

Mean Change from Baseline in Depression Scores at 12 weeks and 16 weeks

+6 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: Musical Training InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm receive a 12-week intervention to teach them how to play the ukulele. The ukulele is a very manageable instrument to learn and requires less hand dexterity than other stringed instruments. Each week participants will follow the musical training intervention (MTI) protocol that provides instruction on how to tune, hold, and strum the ukulele and play basic chords. To practice the chords, they will also learn popular songs (e.g., Chain of Fools, Three Little Birds, Happy Birthday, Don't Worry Be Happy, and Stand by Me). Participants will be instructed to follow each session outlined weekly and asked to practice the instrument for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. They will be given a paper and digital version of the MTI protocol. A member of our research team will call the participants weekly to answer any questions about the MTI protocol.

Group II: Music ListeningActive Control1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will be asked to listen to their preferred music for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. A member of our research team will call them every week to answer any questions they have about the ML protocol. They will be asked to record their experience in a practice log.

Do I qualify?Apply below to find out