Music-Based Interventions for Alzheimer's Disease

Overseen By Assal Habibi, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Southern California

Disqualifiers: Severe hearing loss, Neurological, Psychiatric, others

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

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

Duration: 16 weeks

66 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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?

Research suggests that music therapy can improve the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients by enhancing mood, reducing anxiety and depression, and helping with memory recall. It may also reduce the need for medication and promote social interaction and communication. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is music therapy safe for people with Alzheimer's disease?

Music therapy is generally considered safe for people with Alzheimer's disease, as it can improve mood, social interaction, and quality of life without the need for additional medication. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

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. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

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.

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

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

Trial Overview 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.

Participant Groups

Group I: Choir Experimental Treatment 1 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 Listening Active Control 1 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, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Music Therapy for:

• Alzheimer's disease management
• Dementia symptom relief
• Cognitive function improvement

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

Approved in Canada as Music-Based Interventions for:

• Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
• Enhancement of cognitive function

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Southern California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Findings from Research

Music therapy can provide therapeutic benefits for patients with Alzheimer's dementia by improving their overall well-being and potentially reflecting their progress in managing the disease.

Engaging in music therapy sessions may help alleviate some cognitive disorders associated with Alzheimer's, enhancing the quality of life for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music therapy and Alzheimer disease]. Tromeur, E.[2014]

Active music-making can serve as an effective therapy for Alzheimer's patients, helping to maintain cognitive functions and improve quality of life through social interaction and self-expression.

Music therapy may reduce the need for tranquilizers and hypnotics, promoting mood improvement and enhancing mental processes, suggesting it could be a valuable part of rehabilitation strategies for Alzheimer's patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alzheimer's disease: rhythm, timing and music as therapy. Aldridge, D.[2022]

Music therapy has shown positive effects for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, helping to reduce anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior while improving mood, communication, and autonomy.

The therapy works through emotional and psycho-physiological pathways, and it can help maintain or rehabilitate cognitive, sensory, emotional, and social skills in patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An overview of the use of music therapy in the context of Alzheimer's disease: a report of a French expert group. Guetin, S., Charras, K., Berard, A., et al.[2022]

A 10-week music therapy program for five patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease significantly reduced anxiety levels (from 9.4 to 3.4 on the Hamilton scale) and depression levels (from 10.8 to 2.2 on the Cornell scale), demonstrating its efficacy in improving emotional well-being.

The therapy also alleviated the emotional and physical burden on caregivers, with their burden score dropping from 30.2 to 15.6 on the Zarit scale, indicating that music therapy can benefit both patients and their caregivers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[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)]. Guetin, S., Portet, F., Picot, MC., et al.[2009]

Research is needed to understand how music therapy can impact the behavior of elderly Alzheimer's patients, focusing on both immediate and long-term effects.

The Music Therapy Assessment Tool (MTAT) has shown promising reliability in preliminary tests, making it a valuable tool for evaluating the effects of music therapy in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The music therapy assessment tool in Alzheimer's patients. Glynn, NJ.[2019]

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]

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 study involving 41 mild Alzheimer's disease patients over 6 months, music therapy (MT) did not show significant overall cognitive benefits compared to a control group, but it did improve performance in the abstraction domain of cognitive abilities.

The findings suggest that while MT may not enhance global cognition or daily functioning, it can serve as a valuable supplementary treatment for specific cognitive aspects in Alzheimer's patients under pharmacological care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjunct effect of music therapy on cognition in Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan: a pilot study. Li, CH., Liu, CK., Yang, YH., et al.[2020]

References

1. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music therapy and Alzheimer disease]. [2014]

2. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alzheimer's disease: rhythm, timing and music as therapy. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An overview of the use of music therapy in the context of Alzheimer's disease: a report of a French expert group. [2022]

4. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[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]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The music therapy assessment tool in Alzheimer's patients. [2019]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy for dementia symptoms. [2018]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy for dementia symptoms. [2020]

8. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjunct effect of music therapy on cognition in Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan: a pilot study. [2020]