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Improv Music Therapy for Older Adults

Impact of Improvisation Music Therapy for Persons Living With Dementia and Their Care Partners

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
60 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 8 weeks
  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Older adults and their care partners will participate in music therapy sessions for approximately 8 weeks."
  • "Before and after the 8 week study period, participants will fill out questionnaires about their mood, stress levels, and emotions."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study looks at music therapy for adults age 60 and older with mild Alzheimer's dementia and their care partners. They will join music sessions for about 8 weeks and answer questions about mood, stress, and feelings before and after the study. During sessions, they may be watched or asked about their experience.

Older adults and their care partners will participate in music therapy sessions for approximately 8 weeks. Before and after the 8 week study period, participants will fill out questionnaires about their mood, stress levels, and emotions. During the music therapy sessions, they may be observed or asked questions about the music therapy sessions.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Adults with dementia: Age 60 or older and living independently in the community.
  • Adults with dementia: Have a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Adults with dementia: Have mild dementia, with a score of 16–20 on the MoCA or 19–24 on the MMSE. These tests check memory and thinking.
  • Adults with dementia: Can see and hear well enough to take part, using aids if needed.
  • Adults with dementia: Rate their own English skills as fairly good to good.
  • Care partners: Age 18 or older.
  • Care partners: Rate their own English skills as moderate to good.
  • Care partners: Willing to join the sessions with the person with dementia.

Who can't join

  • Adults with dementia: Have severe dementia from any cause.
  • Adults with dementia: Have a type of dementia other than Alzheimer's.
  • Adults with dementia: Have a serious health condition needing active care that would prevent taking part.
  • Adults with dementia: Have major trouble moving their hands or arms.
  • Adults with dementia: Plan to move out of the area within 6 months.
  • Care partners: Currently have a severe mental health disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. A past disorder alone does not exclude them.
  • Care partners: Have a serious health condition needing active care that would prevent taking part.
  • Care partners: Plan to move out of the area.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria Inclusion criteria for the Person Living with Dementia (PLWD) are: * Age 60 and over, living independently in the community * Medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease * Mild dementia defined as MoCA score between 16-20, or MMSE score between 19-24 * Sufficient visual and hearing acuity (age-related to normal hearing loss with assistive devices) * English fluency rated fairly well to well (self-rated English fluency) Inclusion Criteria for Caregiver are: * Age 18 or Older * Moderate to good English fluency (self-rated English fluency) * Willing to participate in intervention with PLWD Exclusion Criteria Exclusion criteria for PLWD are: * Medical diagnosis of severe dementia (any etiology) * Non-AD dementia diagnosis (e.g., frontotemporal dementia) * Serious medical condition (e.g., an end-stage disease requiring hospice, aphasia from stroke, paralysis, brain injury) requiring active medical management that would interfere with participation in the study * Significant difficulty moving the hands or arms (severe arthritis, neuropathy) * Plans to move out of the area within six months Exclusion criteria for Caregiver are: * Current but not prior severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) * Serious medical condition (e.g., an end-stage disease requiring hospice, aphasia from stroke, paralysis, brain injury) requiring active medical management that would interfere with participation in the study * Plans to move out of the area

Study sites (1)

CA