Music Improvisation Training on Cognitive Function in Older Adults

NCT06721390 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 4R33AG073669-03R33AG073669
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 238
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project will study 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; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitively Normal Older Adults

Keywords

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Florida Cognitive Activities Scale

  The Florida Cognitive Activities Scale is a 25-item scale (0-never to 5-daily) used to assess the cognitive activity in elderly populations. There are two subscales, the Higher Cognitive Abilities and Frequent Cognitive Abilities, and also a measure of self-reported maintenance of cognitive activity

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

• Short Self Regulatory Questionnaire

  Self-report measure of the ability to regulate one's behavior in a goal-oriented way. This self-reported questionnaire contains 31 items, each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The questionnaire scores ranged from 31 to 155, with higher scores indicating better self-regulation behavior

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• National Institutes of Health ToolBox Self-Efficacy

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

• Short GRIT Scale

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

• Five Facets of Mindfulness

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

• National Institutes of Health Toolbox Loneliness Scale

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

• National Institutes of Health Toolbox Apathy

  Baseline and 12-week Post Intervention

Study Arms (2)

Piano Improvisation

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

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

Music Listening BEHAVIORAL

Music Listening facilitated by a professional instructor for 12 weeks.

Music Listening

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
• 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 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

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

Study Sites (1)

The study is taking place at community sites in San Francisco.

San Francisco, California, 94110, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Julene Johnson, PhD

  University of California, San Francisco

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Model Details: Parallel Assignment - We will conduct a 2-arm randomized controlled trial.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2024
• First Posted: December 6, 2024
• Study Start: March 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Last Updated: March 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)