Music Therapy for Dementia

(MCTM Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The Hearthstone Institute, LLC

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Cognitive impairment, Rapid decline

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a music therapy program called Making Connections Thru Music (MCTM) for people with dementia living in long-term care (LTC) facilities. The goal is to determine if music sessions led by trained volunteers can improve engagement, enhance quality of life, and reduce challenging behaviors like aggression and anxiety. Volunteers aged 55 or older who enjoy music and want to help may be a good fit for this trial. The trial involves two groups: one where volunteers lead the sessions and another where professional staff lead them, to compare the outcomes. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could improve the lives of dementia patients.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this music therapy intervention is safe for persons with dementia?

Research has shown that music therapy is generally safe for people with dementia. Studies have found that music-based activities can help reduce depression and anxiety. One study found that music therapy improved verbal skills and reduced depression and apathy.

Music therapy might also reduce the need for certain medications often used to manage difficult behaviors in dementia. Although a similar music program did not lead to long-term behavior changes, it was still considered safe. Overall, music therapy is well-received and offers promising benefits for the emotional and mental well-being of people with dementia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Music Therapy for Dementia trial because it explores how music can uniquely engage individuals with dementia. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on medications to manage symptoms, this approach uses music to potentially enhance cognitive and emotional connections. The intervention involves activity volunteers leading sessions, which might foster more personalized and engaging experiences compared to interactions with professionals. This trial aims to uncover the non-pharmacological benefits of music, offering a fresh perspective on improving the quality of life for those with dementia.

What evidence suggests that the Making Connections Thru Music intervention is effective for dementia?

Research has shown that music therapy can greatly benefit people with dementia. Studies indicate it can lift mood, reduce anxiety, and even aid memory. In this trial, participants in the "MCTM Intervention" arm will engage in music therapy sessions led by activity volunteers. Music therapy has also improved speaking skills, potentially enhancing communication for those with dementia. Observations suggest that listening to favorite music can lead to noticeable improvements in dementia symptoms. Overall, music therapy offers a promising way to enhance the quality of life for those with dementia. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for volunteers aged 55+ and staff at residential care facilities, both groups must speak/read English. Residents with dementia eligible for the study must be diagnosed with any type of dementia, score 10+ on MMSE, be aged 65+, and speak/read English. Those showing rapid decline or working third shift only are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 55 years old or older and can speak and read English.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not experiencing a fast decline in my physical or mental abilities.

Staff members will be excluded if they work third shift only.

I am 65 or older, diagnosed with dementia, can speak English, and scored 10+ on the MMSE.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

4 weeks

Baseline

Initial assessment and baseline measurements are conducted

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive the MCTM intervention facilitated by volunteers or professionals

8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and behavioral changes post-intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Making Connections Thru Music

Trial Overview The trial tests 'Making Connections Thru Music' (MCTM), a program where retired volunteers facilitate music-based interventions to improve engagement and quality of life in people with dementia. It includes an online training course for volunteers and an app containing the intervention protocol.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: MCTM Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Activity sessions will be led by activity volunteers

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Activity sessions will be led by activity professionals

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The Hearthstone Institute, LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials

5

Recruited

490+

Hopeful Aging

Lead Sponsor

Trials

6

Recruited

610+

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

Collaborator

Trials

5

Recruited

2,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Current research on music therapy for dementia lacks rigorous methodological design, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions about its effectiveness.

Despite the absence of reliable empirical evidence, existing studies suggest that music therapy may have potential benefits in managing dementia symptoms, highlighting the need for better-designed research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy for dementia symptoms. Koger, SM., Brotons, M.[2018]

The Music, Mind, and Movement (MMM) program, consisting of seven weekly group sessions, showed promising improvements in global cognition for 8 out of 12 participants with mild to moderate dementia, particularly in attention and verbal fluency.

In contrast, participants receiving standard care experienced a decline in cognition, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits of music-based interventions for enhancing cognitive function in dementia patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A 'Music, Mind and Movement' Program for People With Dementia: Initial Evidence of Improved Cognition. Brancatisano, O., Baird, A., Thompson, WF.[2023]

Current research on music therapy for dementia lacks rigorous methodological design, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about its effectiveness.

Despite the absence of strong empirical evidence, the available studies suggest that music therapy may have potential benefits in managing dementia symptoms, highlighting the need for more well-designed research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy for dementia symptoms. Koger, SM., Brotons, M.[2020]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 120 participants with moderate to severe dementia, both active music therapy (MT) and individualized listening to music (LtM) did not show significant differences in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) compared to standard care.

However, all groups experienced a reduction in symptoms over time, with the MT group showing a 28% decrease in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) global score, suggesting that while music interventions may not significantly outperform standard care, they could still contribute to overall symptom improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Active Music Therapy and Individualized Listening to Music on Dementia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Raglio, A., Bellandi, D., Baiardi, P., et al.[2022]

The online home-based music intervention (MI) for people living with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers has been well-received and effectively delivered across five countries, indicating its feasibility and acceptance.

MI, guided by music therapists, empowers caregivers to use music in daily routines, potentially enhancing the health and quality of life for both caregivers and PwD, while also fostering therapeutic change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The HOMESIDE Music Intervention: A Training Protocol for Family Carers of People Living with Dementia. Odell-Miller, H., Blauth, L., Bloska, J., et al.[2022]

A pilot study involving 25 older patients with delirium and/or dementia showed that creative music therapy (CMT) significantly improved mood and engagement, as evidenced by positive changes in engagement and pleasure ratings during therapy sessions.

CMT not only increased constructive engagement and pleasure but also reduced negative engagement and affect, suggesting it could be a beneficial intervention in acute hospital settings to enhance patient cooperation and compliance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Creative Music Therapy in an Acute Care Setting for Older Patients with Delirium and Dementia. Cheong, CY., Tan, JA., Foong, YL., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9796133/

The promise of music therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A review Effects of MT in patients with AD include improved mood, reduced depressive scores and trait anxiety, enhanced autobiographical recall, verbal fluency, and ...

2. alzres.biomedcentral.com alzres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13195-023-01214-9

The effect of music therapy on cognitive functions in patients ... The results showed that music therapy was more effective in improving verbal fluency and alleviating psychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2274580724005016

Increased Functional Connectivity After Listening to ... We find that participants listening to preferred music show specific activation of the supplementary motor area, a region that has been associated with memory ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00342-x

How and why music therapy reduces distress ... Outcomes include short-term reductions in distress and improved well-being, with the potential for music to become embedded in the management of ...

5. scholarcommons.sc.edu scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1247&context=scurs

Improving Dementia Symptoms Through Personalized Music Results determined that observational data was the most effective means of assessing these improvements with direction observations and staff ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7709645/

Effects of Music Therapy on Patients with Dementia—A ... Significant improvements in verbal fluency occurred after music therapy, with significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and apathy.

7. practicalneurology.com practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/alzheimer-disease-dementias/music-and-dementia-an-overview/30350/

Music and Dementia: An Overview - - Practical Neurology Recent findings suggest that that musical training delays cognitive decline and promotes brain plasticity in the elderly brain. More studies are ...

8. hmpgloballearningnetwork.com hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc/practical-research/light-their-lives-bringing-music-patients-dementia-rural-tennessee

Bringing Music to Patients With Dementia in Rural ... Studies have supported that music may decrease the use of antipsychotic medications and decrease negative behaviors of dementia, including ...

9. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00401-7/fulltext

Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading ... Though caregiver-delivered music intervention by trained therapists didn't create lasting BPSD changes, it was safe. Immediate and short-term ...