Neurophysiological and Neuroendocrinal Benefits of Music Based Interventions for Early Alzheimer's Patients and Their Caregivers
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Yale University
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
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.
Detailed Description
Analysis of recordings captured during drum circles will be conducted using music information retrieval, pulse clarity, psychological ethnography, and similar methods. Investigators hypothesize that (1) the communal drum circles will lead to a decrease in dynamic pain (e.g. sensitivity to repeated stimuli), (2) the ability of the brain to change and adapt will be enhanced in the drumming group compared to the control group, (3) change in and synchrony of heart rate between participants might underlie the impact of communal drumming on pain, and (4) group drumming will increase circulating oxytocin and serotonin and that the modulation of these neurohormones contribute to decreased pain phenomenon.
The primary objective of this study is to investigate how group drumming affects pain responses and nociceptive function in individuals with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
The secondary objectives of this study are to:
- Use quantitative sensory testing (QST) and blood sampling to investigate potential effects of communal drumming on static and dynamic pain and endocrine hormone variability in individuals with dementia.
- Understand neurophysiological changes (i.e. changes in EEG assessments) that may underlie the effects of an 8-week drum circle on pain, endocrinology, and variations in neurobiology in those living with dementia.
- Analyze phase synchrony between dementia participants and their caregivers before and after the intervention to assess shifts in brain synchrony dynamics.
- Analyze heart rate and heart rate variability parameters during group drumming and characterize changes in autonomic nervous system activity within and across group drum sessions.
- Analyze audio recording data to identify behavioral and auditory synchrony dynamics throughout the communal drumming intervention.
In-person sessions of the study will be conducted by Yale IRB-approved study team members at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC; 34 Park St, New Haven, CT 06519).
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Non Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 50 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Clinical Dementia Rating 0.5 - 2
- •Be a person with or caregiver to a person with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease, mild dementia, and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic pain defined as non-cancer pain lasting >3 months that occurs most days and limits life or work activities OR Be a caregiver to a person with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease, mild dementia, and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic pain defined as non-cancer pain lasting >3 months that occurs most days and limits life or work activities
- •Able to provide informed consent
- •Willing to wear an EEG headset and heart rate monitoring devices
- •Willing to answer survey questions about topics related to the study
- •Willing to be audio / video recorded
- •Willing to undergo QST, blood draw, heart rate data collection and cognitive testing
Exclusion Criteria
- •Clinical Dementia Rating <0.5 or > 2
- •Unable to provide informed consent
- •Endorsing suicidal ideation (SI), self-injurious behavior, or homicidal ideation (HI) above the threshold defined in the "Risk Reduction and Safety Plan"
- •Participating in another clinical trial studying AD and/or Dementia
- •Starting a new prescription medication in the last 4 weeks
- •Taking central nervous system acting medications that may interfere with study measurements as determined at PI discretion
Arms & Interventions
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.
Intervention: Drumming session (Behavioral)
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.
Intervention: Music-listening session (Behavioral)