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Music for Pain and Dementia

Neurophysiological and Neuroendocrinal Benefits of Music Based Interventions for Early Alzheimer's Patients and Their Caregivers

Who can join

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

Age
50 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not 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

  • 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
  • "During Week 10, participants will return to the CMHC for deep phenotyping of pain, bloodwork, EEG data collection, and psychometric surveys, and communication/language assessments."
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 tests how an 8-week group drumming program affects pain and brain activity. It is for people with early Alzheimer's disease, mild dementia, or mild cognitive impairment (problems with memory or thinking) who also have long-term pain, and their caregivers.

This study aims to provide mechanistic insights into how group drumming as a music-based intervention (MBI) affects pain responses and nociceptive function in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and brain activity will be measured during communal drumming with their dyadic partners and others. Brain activity, blood pressure, cognitive abilities, blood hormone levels, and static and dynamic pain will also be measured during sessions pre and post the 8-week community drum circle. Investigators will leverage various measurement techniques including, but not limited to, electroencephalography (EEG), quantitative sensory testing (QST), behavioral, surveys, and physiological monitoring to study the impact of group drumming on pain and brain activity in AD and inter-dyad synchrony.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Have a Clinical Dementia Rating, a score of dementia symptoms, from 0.5 to 2.
  • Have early Alzheimer's disease, mild dementia, or mild cognitive impairment and long-term pain, or be a caregiver to someone with these conditions.
  • The pain must not be caused by cancer, must last more than 3 months, happen most days, and limit daily life or work.
  • Be able to understand the study and agree to take part.
  • Be willing to wear an EEG headset that measures brain activity and devices that track heart rate.
  • Be willing to answer study surveys.
  • Be willing to have sound and video recordings made.
  • Be willing to have tests of feeling and pain responses, blood draws, heart rate checks, and memory and thinking tests.

Who can't join

  • Have a Clinical Dementia Rating below 0.5 or above 2.
  • Be unable to understand the study and agree to take part.
  • Have thoughts of suicide or killing others, or self-harming behavior, above the limits set in the study's safety plan.
  • Be taking part in another clinical trial about Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
  • Have started a new prescription medicine in the past 4 weeks.
  • Take medicines that affect the brain or spinal cord that the lead researcher decides could interfere with study measurements.

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

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical Dementia Rating 0.5 - 2 * Be a person with or caregiver to a person with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease, mild dementia, and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic pain defined as non-cancer pain lasting \>3 months that occurs most days and limits life or work activities OR Be a caregiver to a person with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease, mild dementia, and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic pain defined as non-cancer pain lasting \>3 months that occurs most days and limits life or work activities * Able to provide informed consent * Willing to wear an EEG headset and heart rate monitoring devices * Willing to answer survey questions about topics related to the study * Willing to be audio / video recorded * Willing to undergo QST, blood draw, heart rate data collection and cognitive testing Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical Dementia Rating \<0.5 or \> 2 * Unable to provide informed consent * Endorsing suicidal ideation (SI), self-injurious behavior, or homicidal ideation (HI) above the threshold defined in the "Risk Reduction and Safety Plan" * Participating in another clinical trial studying AD and/or Dementia * Starting a new prescription medication in the last 4 weeks * Taking central nervous system acting medications that may interfere with study measurements as determined at PI discretion

Study sites (1)

CT