Music Therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia

Overseen By Charles J Hill

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Must be taking: Carbidopa/Levodopa

Disqualifiers: Severe hearing loss, Music dislike, Delirium, others

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Up to 15 days

108 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a music therapy intervention (MT) prevents hospital-acquired delirium (HaD) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Delirium is defined as a mental state in which you are confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly. It can start suddenly and is usually temporary. It is common among patients with PD/DLB during hospitalization. We are conducting a randomized controlled feasibility pilot study of music therapy (MT) in patients with PD/DLB in the inpatient acute hospital setting. We are testing if receiving music therapy lowers the risk of delirium, compared to other interventions. We are also testing if music therapy lowers the need for certain restraints and medications during the hospitalization. Participants admitted to UMass Memorial Medical Center will be invited to participate. Participants will be asked to undergo a music therapy intervention for 30 minutes 3 times per week, and to listen to personalized music playlists for 60 minutes 4 times per week. Participants will be assessed for HaD every 24 hours, and will undergo additional surveys and questionnaires. Researchers will compare the music therapy intervention to two another comparison groups: one group assigned to listen to music on their own, and one group assigned to receive only standard treatments. About one-third of the participants will be assigned to each of the three study groups.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants with carbidopa/levodopa on their medication list are eligible, suggesting you may continue taking these medications.

Is music therapy safe for humans?

Music therapy is generally considered safe and has been used in various clinical settings without known side effects, including for conditions like dementia and Parkinson's disease. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is music therapy different from other treatments for Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia?

Music therapy is unique because it uses rhythmic auditory cues and musical activities to improve motor and emotional functions, helping patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia become more sociable and reduce symptoms. Unlike traditional drug treatments, it focuses on engaging patients through music to enhance their quality of life and social interactions. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Music Therapy Intervention for Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia?

Research shows that music-based movement therapy can improve motor function in Parkinson's disease patients, and music therapy can enhance social and emotional well-being in individuals with dementia. These findings suggest that music therapy may be beneficial for both motor and emotional symptoms in these conditions. ^{2 3 8 10 11}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for inpatients at UMass Memorial Medical Center with Parkinson's Disease or Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Candidates must be able to hear and enjoy music, not have a history of music-induced seizures, and should not be sedated in intensive care or expected to leave the hospital within 24 hours.

Inclusion Criteria

I am currently an inpatient at UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus.

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease or Dementia with Lewy Bodies, or I am taking carbidopa/levodopa.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who are currently prisoners will not be included

I am not in the ICU on continuous IV sedation.

You are showing signs of confusion or delirium when first checked by the doctor using a special test called the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

Within 24 hours of inpatient admission

Treatment

Participants receive music therapy intervention or control interventions during hospitalization

Up to 15 days

Inpatient setting

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to 30 days after enrollment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Music Therapy Intervention
• Non-guided Music Listening
• Standard of Care

Trial Overview The study tests if music therapy can prevent confusion and memory problems (delirium) in patients hospitalized with Parkinson's or Lewy Body Dementia. Participants will receive either guided music therapy, listen to their own choice of music, or get standard care without added music intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Music Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Music therapy intervention will be administered for 30 minutes 3 times per week between Day 0 and Day 15 of inpatient hospitalization. Daily passive music listening will be required for 30 minutes twice a day, at least 4 days per week. This daily listening experience will consist of personalized playlists developed by the music therapist with specific purpose and goal.

Group II: Active Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Daily passive music listening will be required for 30 minutes twice a day, at least 4 days per week. This daily listening experience will consist of non-personalized, auto-generated playlists based on popular genres. No interaction with a music therapist will occur.

Group III: Standard of care Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Usual standard of care.

Music Therapy Intervention is already approved in China, United States for the following indications:

Approved in China as Music Therapy for:

• Anxiety reduction in pregnant women
• Pain relief during labor
• Stress reduction in high-risk pregnancies

Approved in United States as Music Therapy for:

• Antepartum-related distress alleviation
• Improved caregiver-infant bonding
• Physiological stress reduction in infants post-partum

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Rhythmic auditory stimulation, which uses music or rhythmic cues, has been shown to effectively improve walking function in patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders, both during therapy sessions and over time.

Melodic intonation therapy can enhance speech abilities in patients with expressive dysphasia and supports rehabilitation for conditions like Parkinson's disease and stroke, highlighting the therapeutic potential of music-based interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Can music therapy for patients with neurological disorders?]. Myskja, A.[2008]

Recent studies show that rhythmic auditory stimulation can significantly improve gait parameters in Parkinson's disease, including reducing gait freezing and potentially lowering the risk of falls.

There is emerging evidence that music therapy, including group dancing and singing, may provide both motor and non-motor benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, although more rigorous research is needed to confirm these effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions for Movement Disorders. Devlin, K., Alshaikh, JT., Pantelyat, A.[2020]

A randomized clinical trial involving 32 residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias showed that a singing-based music therapy intervention significantly improved feelings, positive emotions, and social engagement compared to a non-music condition (verbal discussion).

The positive effects of music therapy were particularly notable in individuals with moderate dementia, suggesting that music interventions can enhance psychosocial well-being in this population and should be tailored to patient characteristics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music Therapy Increases Social and Emotional Well-Being in Persons With Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Crossover Trial Comparing Singing to Verbal Discussion. Reschke-Hernández, AE., Gfeller, K., Oleson, J., et al.[2023]

Music therapy has been shown to be an effective complementary treatment for various conditions, including pulmonary disorders and neurological diseases like dementia and Parkinson's, with no known side effects.

The use of music therapy is beneficial not only for emotional support at the end of life but also leads to measurable physiological and hormonal changes, highlighting its broad therapeutic potential.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music and elderly. Leners, JC.[2014]

A review of 12 clinical studies involving 922 cancer patients indicates that music therapy can lead to short-term improvements in mood, relaxation, and reductions in anxiety and pain, particularly in pediatric oncology settings.

Case vignettes illustrate that music therapy can help patients express emotions and shift focus from their illness to a healthier mindset, suggesting its potential as a supportive treatment in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Music Therapy During the Treatment of Cancer Patients: A Collection of Evidence. Boyde, C., Linden, U., Boehm, K., et al.[2020]

Listening to and producing music activates various brain areas related to cognitive, emotional, and sensorimotor processing, suggesting a complex interplay of functions that music engages.

The potential psychological and physiological benefits of music therapy are supported by neuroscientific studies, although the exact mechanisms behind these effects are still not fully understood.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A neuroscientific perspective on music therapy. Koelsch, S.[2022]

Active music therapy (MT) significantly improved motor functions, particularly bradykinesia, in patients with Parkinson's disease, as evidenced by a notable reduction in scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale after 3 months of therapy.

MT also enhanced emotional functions and quality of life, with substantial improvements reported on the Happiness Measure and the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, suggesting its potential as a valuable addition to rehabilitation programs for Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Active music therapy in Parkinson's disease: an integrative method for motor and emotional rehabilitation. Pacchetti, C., Mancini, F., Aglieri, R., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can music-based movement therapy improve motor dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease? Systematic review and meta-analysis. [2018]

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

Virtual Group Music Therapy for Apathy in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study. [2023]

3. Norway pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Can music therapy for patients with neurological disorders?]. [2008]

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

Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions for Movement Disorders. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music Therapy Increases Social and Emotional Well-Being in Persons With Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Crossover Trial Comparing Singing to Verbal Discussion. [2023]

6. Luxembourg pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music and elderly. [2014]

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

The Use of Music Therapy During the Treatment of Cancer Patients: A Collection of Evidence. [2020]

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

A neuroscientific perspective on music therapy. [2022]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does a Live Performance Impact Synchronization to Musical Rhythm in Cognitively Impaired Elderly? [2021]

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

Active music therapy in Parkinson's disease: an integrative method for motor and emotional rehabilitation. [2022]

11. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music therapy on Parkinson disease]. [2019]