Music for Pain and Dementia (NCT07602283) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Music for Pain and Dementia
United States60 participantsStarted 2026-06-09
Plain-language 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.
Who can participate
Age range
50 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
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
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in pain phenotyping using a Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)
Timeframe: Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart
2
Change in pain central sensitization
Timeframe: Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart
3
Change in cortisol levels
Timeframe: Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart
4
Change in oxytocin levels
Timeframe: Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart