Music for the Mind Study

NCT ID: NCT06866327

Last Updated: 2025-03-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 18 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-02-24
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) find two music programs equally acceptable. This pilot study will help researchers prepare for a future, large-scale clinical trial to learn if music training can slow cognitive decline and promote emotional well-being in those at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The main questions this pilot study aims to answer are:

• Do participants like the music programs?
• Do participants stay enrolled in the study?
• Do participants report perceived benefits of the programs for their emotional well-being or everyday memory?

Participants will:

• Participate in 12-weekly sessions of piano lessons or music lessons, with group and individual lessons alternating each week.
• Have home practice in between lessons, with a keyboard or other instruments provided.
• Keep a diary of their home practice and their mood before and after practice.
• Participate in interviews before and after the 12-week programs.

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Memory Disorders, Age Related; Memory Decline

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Piano lessons

Introduction to piano playing, including instruction and practice in note reading, finger positions, and song playing.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Piano lessons

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The program consists of 12-weekly piano lessons, alternating small group lessons and individual lessons each week. Individual lessons reinforce and help personalize what is instructed during group lessons. Lessons are tailored to help older adults with memory challenges learn note reading, finger positioning, and song playing. Participants are asked to practice at home in between lessons for 10 minutes per day, 5 times per week, with a keyboard and bench provided.

Music lessons

Introduction to varied instrument playing, music singing, and music appreciation.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Music Lessons

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The program consists of 12-weekly music lessons, alternating small group lessons and individual lessons each week. Individual lessons reinforce and help personalize what is instructed during group lessons. Lessons are tailored to help older adults with memory challenges learn various instruments, engage in group playing during group lessons, and engage in music appreciation activities. Participants are asked to practice at home in between lessons for 10 minutes per day, 5 times per week, with instruments provided.

Interventions

Piano lessons

The program consists of 12-weekly piano lessons, alternating small group lessons and individual lessons each week. Individual lessons reinforce and help personalize what is instructed during group lessons. Lessons are tailored to help older adults with memory challenges learn note reading, finger positioning, and song playing. Participants are asked to practice at home in between lessons for 10 minutes per day, 5 times per week, with a keyboard and bench provided.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Music Lessons

The program consists of 12-weekly music lessons, alternating small group lessons and individual lessons each week. Individual lessons reinforce and help personalize what is instructed during group lessons. Lessons are tailored to help older adults with memory challenges learn various instruments, engage in group playing during group lessons, and engage in music appreciation activities. Participants are asked to practice at home in between lessons for 10 minutes per day, 5 times per week, with instruments provided.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged ≥ 60 years
• English-speaking
• Community-dwelling
• Medical diagnosis of MCI by a physician or research diagnostic criteria for MCI, defined by having Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with a cutoff of 20- 25 (further adjusted for racial/ethnic differences)
• Capable to consent as identified by the University of California, San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC)
• No severe psychiatric condition (e.g., bipolar disorder)

Exclusion Criteria

• Demonstrate musicality knowledge, as assessed by the Musicality Assessment developed by the study team
• Currently participating in a formal music activity (performance, classes, lessons, etc.)
• Major impairment in eyesight or hearing that precludes music reading, hearing, or engagement in the class
• Any difficulty using a keyboard (portable electric piano) due to pain, neuropathy, tremor, or upper finger/hand/limb injury

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Rochester Aging Institute

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Rochester School of Nursing

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Rochester

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kathi Heffner

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

School of Nursing

Rochester, New York, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Rose Lin, PhD

Role: CONTACT

sinyirose_lin@urmc.rochester.edu

(585) 276-6833

Facility Contacts

Rose Lin, PhD

Role: primary

sinyirose_lin'@urmc.rochester.edu

(585) 276-6833

Other Identifiers

STUDY00010048

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id