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

University of Bergen

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Mild Cognitive Impairment

MCI With Increased Risk for Alzheimer Disease

Treatments

Behavioral: Music lessons

Behavioral: Training intervention

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT03444181

RCN 260576

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment

136 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

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)