Health Trials

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

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

Disqualifiers

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

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Drumming session
  • Music-listening session

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Locations

1
Connecticut Mental Health Clinic06510, New HavenConnecticut, United States

Sponsors and collaborators

Yale University

Lead sponsor

Renée Fleming Foundation

Collaborator

Howard University

Collaborator

NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative

Collaborator

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov