Music Effects on Dementia

Summary

Older adults constitute a population whose age-related physiological and cognitive changes predispose them to conditions that are less likely to occur in younger individuals. Dementia encompasses a group of health conditions that primarily affect this age group. These disorders commonly impair mental functions-particularly memory-but they also manifest through behavioral symptoms, such as irritability, and exert a significant impact not only on the affected individual but also on their immediate environment.

In this study, the investigators will implement a structured musical improvisation intervention led by four professional concert musicians. This approach, which has demonstrated effectiveness in other populations, aims to evaluate its effects on the mental and physical health of older adults living with dementia. Additionally, the intervention will be assessed in terms of its potential impact on primary caregivers, thereby exploring its reach beyond the individual diagnosed with dementia.

Previous studies have reported the effectiveness of such interventions, noting improvements in memory, behavioral symptoms, and even overall physical well-being. To date, no studies of this nature have been conducted in our country, making this the first to pursue an extensive exploration of outcomes-not only those traditionally assessed in similar trials, but also a broader evaluation of various dimensions of health in older adults undergoing the intervention. Additionally, caregivers may also benefit from actively participating in these sessions, which are designed to include them from the very beginning. Beyond generating data on the potential effects across different bodily and cognitive functions-knowledge that may become a leading reference in this field-this intervention holds the potential to be scaled up, thereby benefiting a larger population and ultimately enhancing the care provided to older adults living with dementia.

Conditions

• Dementia
• Music Therapy
• Caregiver Burden of People With Dementia
• Neuropsychiatric Symptom
• Frailty
• Aged (80 or More)
• Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Interventions

OTHER

Music Therapy

Each session lasts three hours and includes preparation and rehearsal, an introductory improvisation with musical instruments, improvisation by patients and their caregivers with small percussion instruments, and finally, an artistic reflection involving musicians, caregivers, and patients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad La Salle, Mexico

  collaborator OTHER

• National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico

  collaborator OTHER

• Instituto Nacional de Geriatria, Mexico

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Mario U Perez · Instituto Nacional de Geriatria, Mexico

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-11-10

Primary Completion

2025-12-20

Completion

2025-12-20

Countries

• Mexico

Study Locations