ALzheimer and MUsic THerapy: Effects of Music Lessons on Brain Plasticity, Mood, and Quality of Life in Alzheimer Patients

NCT03444181 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: RCN 260576
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 136
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Music has powerful effects on memory in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. However, although there is anecdotal evidence for beneficial effects of active music interventions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is lack of high-quality research investigating this issue, and the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that contribute to potentially beneficial effects of music making in AD patients are largely unknown. In a randomised controlled intervention trial, a cohort of AD patients will undergo twelve months of music lessons specifically tailored for AD patients. Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to determine changes in brain age (as compared to two control groups), and voxel-based morphometry will be computed to determine contributions of different factors of the music intervention (cognitive, emotional, and social) to plastic changes of brain morphology, and a potential deceleration of brain atrophy. In addition, quality of life of patients. In cooperation with the Bergen municipality, and a strong network of national and international partners, the neurocognitive music therapy will be implemented, involving training of music therapists, and communication of results to patients, patient groups, and therapists.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment; MCI With Increased Risk for Alzheimer Disease

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Brain age

  MRI-derived estimation of the deviation of a person's brain age from the chronological age of that same person, in months

  12 months

• Depression symptoms

  Sum score of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; 15 yes/no items; possible range of scores 0-15; higher scores indicating more severe depression symptoms)

  12 months

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Living independently at home

  12 months and up to 5 years

• Language abilities

  12 months

• Sensori-motor functions

  12 months

• Activities of daily living

  12 months

• Disease progression

  12 months

Study Arms (3)

Music lessons

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Music lessons

Training intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Training intervention

No intervention

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Music lessons BEHAVIORAL

Also described as neurocognitive music therapy. Singing lessons will be provided once a week for a period of 12 months by a person with a qualification in music therapy, or by a person with a different relevant qualification (e.g. psychology and music teaching) under the supervision of a music therapist. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to meet regularly (1-2 times per month) as a choir to sing the song they have learned together in a group.

Music lessons

Training intervention BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive training that is comparable in scope and extent to the music lessons, but not using music. Group training sessions will be provided once a week for a period of 12 months by a person with a qualification in physiotherapy or occupational therapy. Group activities may include group tours such as mountain hikes and the like (about 2 times per month) and will follow an established program for the elderly.

Training intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease
• Living independently at home (not in a care home or similar aged care facility)
• Able to complete questionnaires in Norwegian
• Able to undergo MRI scans
• Able to attend interventions and assessments in the area of Bergen, Norway
• Has given informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Hearing impairment that cannot be mended by hearing aids
• Conditions that hinder MRI scans, such as claustrophobia or metal objects in body (e.g. pacemakers)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Bergen: lead
• NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS: collaborator
• Bergen Municipality: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Bergen Municipality

Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Location

Related Publications (3)

• van der Steen JT, van der Wouden JC, Methley AM, Smaling HJA, Vink AC, Bruinsma MS. Music-based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 Mar 7;3(3):CD003477. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003477.pub5.

  PMID: 40049590 DERIVED

• Matziorinis AM, Flo BK, Skouras S, Dahle K, Henriksen A, Hausmann F, Sudmann TT, Gold C, Koelsch S. A 12-month randomised pilot trial of the Alzheimer's and music therapy study: a feasibility assessment of music therapy and physical activity in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2023 Apr 19;9(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01287-1.

  PMID: 37076884 DERIVED

• Flo BK, Matziorinis AM, Skouras S, Sudmann TT, Gold C, Koelsch S. Study protocol for the Alzheimer and music therapy study: An RCT to compare the efficacy of music therapy and physical activity on brain plasticity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive decline, in a population with and at risk for Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One. 2022 Jun 30;17(6):e0270682. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270682. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35771851 DERIVED

Related Links

• Project website

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Cognition Disorders

Study Officials

• Stefan Koelsch, PhD

  University of Bergen

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 16, 2018
• First Posted: February 23, 2018
• Study Start: April 11, 2018
• Primary Completion: June 14, 2024
• Study Completion: June 14, 2024
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Locations

NO (1)