Museum Visits for Aging

(HeART-BRAIN Trial)

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

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

In a recent report, the World Organization for Health provided some evidence that artistic and cultural activities can support the health and well-being of the population. Our previous research suggests that the effect of museum visits on well-being and stress might be tied to relaxing proprieties of contact with art objects, especially when the artwork is viewed with an introspective and self-reflexive approach. This study addresses the effect of a well-being museum intervention of six weeks on cerebral activity associated with artwork contemplation during a museum visit and assesses how it affects the psychological and cardiovascular health of older adults with and without atrial fibrillation. The well-being intervention will engage the participant in a series of 6 visits, in groups of 10, oriented on his feelings, impressions, and interpretations of artworks. This well-being museum intervention will be compared to visits typically provided in the museum, in a cross-over single-blinded design.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+