Actively Recruiting
A Multimodal Music Therapy Intervention for Engaging Persons With Severe Dementia
Led by Alaine E Hernandez, PhD · Updated on 2026-01-20
45
Participants Needed
9
Research Sites
67 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
A
Alaine E Hernandez, PhD
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this pilot randomized clinical trial is to learn if a music therapy treatment, called AMUSED, can improve engagement and reduce behavioral symptoms in older adults with severe dementia who live in care facilities. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is it feasible to conduct a full-scale trial of AMUSED? * Can investigators identify the best outcome measures to assess impact on behavioral symptoms of dementia? * Does speech offer a useful indicator of treatment effectiveness? Researchers will compare a group-based music therapy treatment to a reading activity to learn if music therapy leads to greater improvements in behavioral symptoms and speech patterns. Participants will: * Participate in either music therapy (includes live music, singing, and rhythmic instrument playing) or a reading group with stories about life and nature and talk about memories. * Attend small group sessions twice a week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 40 minutes between lunch and dinner. * Be observed and assessed for behavioral symptoms, cognition, and speech several times during treatment and at a 4-week follow-up.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A Multimodal Music Therapy Intervention for Engaging Persons With Severe Dementia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 65 years or older
- Physician diagnosis of late-onset dementia
- Stable residency at the care facility for about 2 months before the study
- Primary language is English
- Severe dementia with a Brief Inventory of Mental Status (BIMS) score less than 7 and no independent function in community affairs, hobbies, chores, or personal care
You will not qualify if you...
- Currently receiving music therapy
- Presence of a co-occurring movement disorder
- Preexisting cognitive disability
- Mild dementia with BIMS score 7 or higher
- Facilities that do not meet inclusion requirements for participation or support
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 9 locations
1
Cedar Ridge Health Campus
Cynthiana, Kentucky, United States, 41031
Completed
2
Walker's Trail Senior Living
Danville, Kentucky, United States, 40422
Completed
3
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40506
Actively Recruiting
4
Magnolia Springs Senior Living
Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40511
Withdrawn
5
Sayre Christian Village
Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40517
Active, Not Recruiting
6
The Homeplace at Midway
Midway, Kentucky, United States, 40347
Completed
7
Windsor Care Center
Mount Sterling, Kentucky, United States, 40353
Withdrawn
8
Daisy Hill Senior Living
Versailles, Kentucky, United States, 40383
Active, Not Recruiting
9
Thomson-Hood Veterans Center
Wilmore, Kentucky, United States, 40390
Completed
Research Team
A
Alaine E. Reschke-Hernandez, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Number of Arms
2
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