Neural Mechanisms of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music for Alzheimer's Disease

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Jul 26, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is exploring whether Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music (CDIM)—live, improvised music intended to promote calm—can help reduce anxiety and calmness-related symptoms in two groups: 15 adults with Alzheimer’s disease and 15 cognitively healthy adults. There is no drug or device involved. Participants will undergo music sessions and be assessed for anxiety and other responses. Scientists will measure changes in anxiety scores, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and also track vital signs (like blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and skin conductance) as well as brain activity and connectivity using MRI.

Eligibility is centered on age and cognitive status. Adults are 55 to 85 years old. The Alzheimer’s group can participate if they have mild to moderate dementia (MMSE above 15 and Clinical Dementia Rating 0.5 to 2) and a history or current signs of agitation or anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory score over 8). The cognitively healthy group must have anxiety symptoms (BAI over 8) but no dementia. Hearing must be adequate to participate. The study is taking place at Northwestern University’s Mesulam Center in Chicago, and enrollment is by invitation. It is a non-randomized, open-label design (two parallel groups both receiving the music intervention), with study completion expected in 2026. This is an early, exploratory look at how music might help with anxiety and what happens in the brain, not a proven treatment.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Cognitively healthy individuals
• • Cognitively healthy control participants evaluated through the Northwestern Mesulam Center. BAI \> 8.
• • Exclusion Criteria: hearing loss
• • 2. Individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease
• • This group will similarly be recruited through the Mesulam Center. All individuals recruited by the research Core at the center are well characterized tests standardized across all NIH funded Alzheimer Centers across the nation. Individuals with mild to moderate neurocognitive disorder due to AD will have an MMSE greater than \>15 and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) between 0.5 and 2.. They will also have a history of neurocognitive-related agitation/anxiety, and a Beck Anxiety Index (BAI) greater than 8, suggestive of at least a mild level of anxiety.
• • Exclusion criteria: MMSE\<15, CDR\>2, hearing loss