Museum Visits for Aging

(HeART-BRAIN Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Louis G Bherer, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Louis Bherer

Disqualifiers: Depression, Cognitive impairment, Psychiatric, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how museum visits affect the well-being and stress levels of older adults, focusing on psychological and heart health. Participants will either attend museum visits centered on personal reflection and feelings about the art (well-being intervention) or standard guided tours providing historical context (classic intervention). The study is open to individuals aged 50 and over, with normal hearing and vision, and who either have or do not have controlled atrial fibrillation (a common heart rhythm issue). It is ideal for those who occasionally visit museums and have no formal training in visual arts. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the benefits of cultural activities on health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on museum visits and does not mention medication changes.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that museum-based activities, like those in this study, are generally safe for older adults. A review of museum programs found that activities involving art and museums are low-risk and can improve well-being while reducing feelings of loneliness. Another study found that handling museum objects benefits older people by supporting emotional health and encouraging social connections.

For the well-being activity, previous research has shown that engaging with art in a personal and thoughtful way can improve well-being. This experience effectively boosts mood and emotional health in older adults.

For the classic museum activity, similar programs have enhanced well-being and mood by offering social interaction and mental engagement through guided art exploration.

Overall, both types of museum visits are well-received and positively affect mental and emotional health. Similar studies have reported no significant negative events, suggesting these activities are a safe option for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different types of museum visits might impact the well-being of aging individuals. Unlike traditional guided tours that focus on art history and facts, the well-being intervention encourages personal connections with the art, supported by a mediator who fosters emotional engagement and group discussion. This approach might enhance emotional well-being and social interaction, offering a potentially enriching experience beyond standard museum visits. By comparing these methods, researchers aim to understand better how cultural activities can support mental and emotional health in older adults.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for improving well-being and stress in older adults?

Research has shown that art activities in museums can enhance mood, well-being, and quality of life, particularly for older adults. In this trial, participants will engage in either the Well-being museum intervention or the Classic museum intervention. Studies have found that programs like the Well-being museum intervention can reduce loneliness and foster positive feelings. Frequent participation in these art programs is linked to protecting older adults from loneliness. For the Classic museum intervention, evidence suggests that museum programs can boost well-being and promote social interaction among older adults. Overall, both types of programs show promise in improving mental health and mood in older individuals. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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.

Inclusion Criteria

I visit museums or exhibitions up to 6 times a year.

My vision and hearing are normal or corrected to normal.

I am 50 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

My memory and thinking test score is below 19.

I have a psychiatric or neurological condition.

I have major difficulties standing or walking on my own.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Well-Being Museum Intervention

Participants engage in a series of 6 weekly museum visits, focusing on personal and sensitive understanding of artworks with the support of a museum mediator.

6 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Classic Museum Intervention

Participants engage in a series of 6 weekly museum visits, guided by a volunteer trained in art history, providing context and information about the artworks.

6 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychological and cardiovascular health after the interventions.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Classic intervention
• Well-being intervention

Trial Overview 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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Well-Being Museum intervention Experimental Treatment 2 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 intervention Active Control 2 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.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Louis Bherer

Lead Sponsor

Trials

6

Recruited

430+

Mitacs

Industry Sponsor

Trials

46

Recruited

5,200+

Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec

Collaborator

Trials

84

Recruited

46,700+

Université de Montréal

Collaborator

Trials

223

Recruited

104,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12276400/

Enhancing well-being in mild and moderate cognitive ... Our findings suggest that art interventions, such as museum programs, can significantly boost well-being in people with MCI-moderate, suggesting ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12231841/

Rethinking culture: a narrative review on the evolving role of ... The results of the study demonstrated that for patients with early to moderate-stage dementia, museum object handling had a positive impact on ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/292185415_Targeted_Museum_Programs_for_Older_Adults_A_Research_and_Program_Review

Targeted Museum Programs for Older Adults The most common outcomes of programs for older adults were increased socialization and improved mood. The review found that many models for ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/338561448_Participatory_art-based_activity_community-dwelling_older_adults_and_changes_in_health_condition_Results_from_a_pre-post_intervention_single-arm_prospective_and_longitudinal_study

Participatory art-based activity, community-dwelling older ... This study aims to examine changes in well-being, quality of life and frailty associated with a weekly art-based activity, known as "Thursday at ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03557723

Effect of Art Museum Activity Program for the Elderly on ... In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical ...

6. ne-mo.org ne-mo.org/news-events/article/report-on-how-museums-can-empower-older-adults/

Report on how museums can empower older adults The report, written by Marjorie Schwarzer, opens with an overview of aging and ageism in the USA. It documents actions being taken to foster positive aging, ...