Impact of Music Improvisation Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults

NCT05980286 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 1R61AG073669
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 53
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project will develop and test the effects and mechanisms of a music improvisation training intervention on self-regulation of older adults with and without MCI. The investigator's overall hypothesis is that improvisation training will lead to improvements in self-regulation, compared to controls, and that improvisation training will be associated with specific changes in prefrontal brain networks and ultimately cognitive engagement.

Conditions

Aging; Cognitive Aging; Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Training; Cognitively Normal Older Adults; Mild Cognitive Impairment

Keywords

Aging; Brain Aging; Cognition; Cognitive Engagement; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Music; Music-based Intervention; Music Training; Older Adults

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Retention in Study

  This outcome is the proportion of participants who completed post-test assessments and remained in the study.

  12 weeks

• Adherence to Intervention

  This outcome will document participant adherence to the intervention. The percentage of participants who completed at least 6 out of 12 sessions.

  12 weeks

• Satisfaction With Intervention

  This survey item was part of a longer feasibility and acceptability survey that was created for this study. This question measures the degree to which participants reported being satisfied with the intervention. This item was "Overall, how would you rate the quality of the sessions?" on a 5-point scale (1-poor, 2-fair, 3-good, 4-very good, or 5-excellent). Scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating better satisfaction. We report the percentage of participants who rated the intervention as good to excellent (scores of 3-5).

  12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire

  Baseline and 12-weeks

• Florida Cognitive Activities Scale

  Baseline and 12-week

• National Institutes of Health ToolBox Self-Efficacy

  Baseline and 12-week

• Short Grit Scale

  Baseline and 12-week

• Five Facets of Mindfulness

  Baseline and 12-week

Study Arms (2)

Piano Improvisation Training

EXPERIMENTAL

This intervention will involve group piano improvisation training sessions once a week for 12 weeks, in addition to daily in-home practice for 4-5 days.

Behavioral: Piano Improvisation

Music Listening Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The music listening condition will involve group music listening sessions (led by a trained instructor) once a week for 12 weeks and daily in-home music listening practice.

Behavioral: Music Listening

Interventions

Piano Improvisation BEHAVIORAL

Piano Improvisation taught by a professional instructor for 12 weeks.

Piano Improvisation Training

Music Listening BEHAVIORAL

Music Listening facilitated by a professional instructor for 12 weeks.

Music Listening Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 60 and over
• Living independently in the community
• Sufficient visual and hearing acuity (age-related to normal hearing loss, with assistive devices) as measured by audiometer
• Less than three years of formal music training (as indicated by private music lessons does not include group or ensemble classes) and not currently reading or engaging in music performance
• English fluency rated fairly well to well
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 22-30 or diagnosis of "mild cognitive impairment
• Not currently taking psychoactive medications, antidepressants, or sleep medications that could adversely affect cognitive abilities.

You may not qualify if:

• Medical diagnosis of dementia (any etiology)
• Inability to move the hands or use all 10 digits (extensive arthritis, neuropathy, missing digits)
• Score \< 22 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
• Current (but not prior) severe psychiatric disorder, serious medical condition (e.g., stroke, TIA) that would interfere with participation in the study
• Poor English fluency
• Musician or previously trained in jazz improvisation, more than three years of formal music instruction or training and/or currently engaged in musical performance
• Plans to move out of the area within six months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Francisco: lead
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) Sites

San Francisco, California, 94103, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Julene Johnson, Professor
• Organization: University of California, San Francisco

Julene.Johnson@ucsf.edu

415-476-1106

Study Officials

• Julene Johnson, PhD

  University of California, San Francisco

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: We will conduct a 2-arm randomized pilot trial.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 31, 2023
• First Posted: August 7, 2023
• Study Start: October 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 28, 2023
• Study Completion: June 28, 2023
• Last Updated: December 17, 2025
• Results First Posted: December 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)