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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether music therapy can prevent confusion and disorientation (delirium) in patients with Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia during hospital stays. Participants will receive either personalized music therapy, listen to standard music playlists, or continue with usual care to determine the most effective method. The goal is to discover if music therapy can reduce the need for restraints and certain medications during hospitalization. Individuals hospitalized with Parkinson's or Lewy body dementia who enjoy music might be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative care options and contribute to groundbreaking research.

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.

What prior data suggests that music therapy is safe for patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia?

Research has shown that music therapy is generally safe for individuals with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and dementia. One study found that music therapy helps people relax and feel better emotionally without causing harm. Another review concluded that music therapy effectively manages these conditions due to its minimal side effects and ease of use.

For individuals with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, strong evidence of negative side effects from music therapy is lacking. This makes it a promising option for those seeking non-drug ways to improve their health. Overall, music therapy appears to be a well-tolerated choice for managing these conditions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about music therapy for Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia because it offers a personalized, interactive approach that differs from traditional pharmaceuticals like levodopa or dopamine agonists. Unlike standard treatments that focus on managing symptoms through medication, music therapy involves creating tailored playlists with specific therapeutic goals, potentially engaging patients on an emotional and cognitive level. This method may enhance mood and cognitive function more naturally and quickly, offering a complementary strategy that could improve quality of life without medication side effects.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for preventing hospital-acquired delirium in patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia?

Research shows that music therapy, a treatment in this trial, benefits people with Parkinson's disease and dementia by reducing stress and anxiety and boosting mood. Studies have found that music therapy also helps older adults think more clearly and feel less depressed. For those with neurological disorders like Parkinson's, music offers social and emotional benefits. Additionally, music therapy has improved movement skills, such as walking and stride length, often affected by Parkinson's disease. While research is ongoing, these findings suggest that music therapy might reduce confusion and improve overall well-being in hospital settings. Participants in this trial may receive music therapy, non-guided music listening, or standard care to evaluate these potential benefits. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

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: Standard care Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Usual standard 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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8582661/

Music Therapy and Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic ... Music has cognitive, psychosocial, behavioral, and motor benefits for people with neurological disorders such as dementia or Parkinson's disease ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10415237/

Effectiveness of music-based interventions for cognitive ... Overall, the results showed no evidence of efficacy of music-based interventions for cognitive outcomes in PD.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024115952

Therapeutic use of music in neurological disorders Music is clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mood and self-expression, particularly after traumatic events.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49162-6

The effect of receptive music therapy on older adults with ... Receptive music therapy intervention significantly improved cognitive function and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults with MCI.

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1679881/full

Effectiveness and applications of neurologic music therapy ... Meta-analysis showed neurologic music therapy significantly improved gait velocity (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI [0.39, 1.01], p < 0.001) and stride length (SMD = 0.63, ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6513122/

Music‐based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia Music therapy can bring relaxation and has a positive effect on enhancing communication and emotional well‐being (Brotons 2000). Music therapy enables the ...

7. umassmed.edu umassmed.edu/smithlab/research/pace-award-research/

Music Therapy for Hospitalized Patients with Parkinson's ... Music Therapy for Hospitalized Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot to Prevent Delirium. Music Therapy ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432823004680

Current scenario and potential of music therapy in the ... Music therapy is efficacious in the management of diseases because of its less or no adverse effects and ease of application.

9. bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-025-06073-7

Efficacy of music therapy as a non-pharmacological measure ... The results showed that the application of MT significantly reduced depression and anxiety [65]. In a quasi-experimental study of 14 AD patients ...