Music for Pain and Dementia

Part of paid clinical trials in New Haven, Connecticut.

Sponsor
Yale University
Study ID
NCT07602283
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
50 Years - 80 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Drumming session — BEHAVIORAL
    A 45-minute to 1-hour group drumming session
  • Music-listening session — BEHAVIORAL
    A 45-minute to 1-hour group music-listening session

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Aug 1, 2027
Completion
Feb 1, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: AD / Dementia / MCI participants with chronic pain and caregivers dyads
    Each participant pair will take part in ten weekly sessions. All sessions will last up to 3 hours. During Week 1, participants will have physiological, bloodwork, communication/language, pain sensitivity, and survey data collected to assess baseline levels of brain activity, heart rate, blood hormones, cognition, dynamic pain, and psychological symptoms. In Weeks 2 through 9, participants will participate in a 45-minute to 1-hour drumming session during which investigators will collect heart data. Psychometric survey data will be collected before and after each session. During Week 10, participants will have physiological, bloodwork, communication/language, pain sensitivity, and survey data collected to assess post-intervention levels of brain activity, heart rate, blood hormones, cognition, dynamic pain, and psychological symptoms.
  • Other: AD / Dementia / MCI participants without chronic pain and caregivers dyads
    Each participant pair will take part in ten weekly sessions. All sessions will last up to 3 hours. During Week 1, participants will have physiological, bloodwork, communication/language, pain sensitivity, and survey data collected to assess baseline levels of brain activity, heart rate, blood hormones, cognition, dynamic pain, and psychological symptoms. In Weeks 2 through 9, participants will participate in a 45-minute to 1-hour music-listening session during which investigators will collect heart data. Psychometric survey data will be collected before and after each session. During Week 10, participants will have physiological, bloodwork, communication/language, pain sensitivity, and survey data collected to assess post-intervention levels of brain activity, heart rate, blood hormones, cognition, dynamic pain, and psychological symptoms.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in pain phenotyping using a Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) [ Time Frame: Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Connecticut Mental Health ClinicNew HavenConnecticut06510
Chief Operating Officer
[email protected]
203-974-7086

Find similar trials in New Haven, CT

By condition
Alzheimer's disease
By specialty
NeurologyDementia careBrain disordersGeriatrics
By research site
Connecticut Mental Health Clinic· New Haven, CT

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