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Music Therapy for Delirium in Neurodegenerative Disease Patients

This study is testing a new type of music therapy to help prevent delirium (confusion) in hospitalized patients with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The music therapy sessions will be personalized for each patient, potentially including live music, playing instruments, or listening to recordings. Researchers want to see if this music therapy can reduce delirium scores and how many sessions patients can successfully complete. You might be able to join if you are 60 or older, admitted to Boston Medical Center, and have a diagnosis of a cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative disease. The study aims to enroll 30 participants, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 30 participants. It is a pilot study to create and test a new kind of music therapy.
What's involved
You would participate in up to five live music therapy sessions, 3 times per week, during your hospitalization. Delirium scores will be measured every 24 hours until discharge.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Delirium scores will be measured until discharge, which is on average 7 days. The number of music therapy sessions completed will also be tracked during hospitalization.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07137949

Delirium in Neurodegenerative Disease Patients: A Music Therapy Intervention for Hospital Care

Recruiting
NAAges 60+InterventionalTreatment
Boston Medical Center
~30 participants
Updated 2026-04-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Music therapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Delirium scores
Measured over every 24 hours until discharge (on average 7 days)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Delirium

Explore related trials

Alzheimer's DiseaseCognitive DysfunctionLewy Body DementiaParkinson DiseaseVascular Dementia

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Kara M Smith, MD MSCI FAAN · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston Medical Center, Neurology

Who to contact

Kara M Smith, MD MSCI FAAN
[email protected]
617-638-5351
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Admitted as inpatient to Boston Medical Center.
Cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases as defined by either:
Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (ICD-10 G20 and G31.83 respectively), Alzheimer's Disease-related dementias (ICD-10 6D80), vascular dementia (F01), or other cognitive impairment (R41) on active problem list or past medical history
"Cognitive impairment" on active problem list or past medical history
Documentation elsewhere in the electronic medical record (e.g. notes) of any of these conditions
Participants with cognitive impairment will be included. If unable to consent, legally authorized representative (LAR) based on HRP-013-SOP-LARs, Children, and Guardians will be contacted to consent.
Spanish speaking participants will be included. Screening and informed consent procedures will be conducted using a certified medical interpreter. All intervention sessions and study team interactions will be conducted using these interpreter services.
Patients admitted to an intensive care unit will be included as long as they are not receiving continuous intravenous sedative medications. Potential participants in the intensive care unit setting will be discussed with a PI/co-I to ensure participation is appropriate on a case-by-case basis. The PI/Co-I will confirm with the treating physician that there are no reasons as to why the potential participant should not be enrolled in the study.

Exclusion

Admitted to observation status (as these patients would not be expected to remain inpatient long enough to undergo the MT intervention)
Patients who will be discharged within 24 hours of eligibility based on discussion with primary admitting team
Self-reported history of musicogenic seizures
Hearing loss: unable to hear a recorded sound \<70 decibels (dB)
Dislike of music: Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire score of \<40
Patients who are currently prisoners
Patients in the intensive care unit receiving continuous intravenous sedative medication
Pregnant women

What this trial measures

  • Delirium scoresevery 24 hours until discharge (on average 7 days)

    The 3-Minute Diagnostic Interview for the Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) will be used to assess presence and severity of delirium. For participants who cannot complete the 3D-CAM due to non-verbal status, the CAM-ICU will be used in its place.

  • Number of music therapy sessions successfully completedduring hospitalization, on average 7 days

    Based on data from study records.