Music for Pain and Dementia

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Peer-bonded Caregiver, Caregiver

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07602283

Run by

Yale University

People needed

60

Starts

2026-06-09

Expected to finish

2028-02-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-12

Who can join

Age: 50 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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

You may not qualify if…

• 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

Where it is running

• Connecticut Mental Health Clinic — New Haven, Connecticut, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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