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Music for Pain and Dementia Study

This study is exploring how group drumming sessions or music-listening sessions might help people aged 50 to 80 who have early Alzheimer's disease, mild dementia, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and chronic pain. Caregivers of these individuals can also participate. Researchers want to see if these music-based activities can reduce pain and improve brain function. They will measure changes in pain levels, how the body processes pain (central sensitization), and stress hormone levels (cortisol) over about 9 weeks. The study is looking for 60 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 60 planned participants. It compares group drumming sessions to group music-listening sessions.
What's involved
You would participate in either a 45-minute to 1-hour group drumming session or a 45-minute to 1-hour group music-listening session. Measurements will be taken at the beginning and after about 9 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements for primary outcomes are taken at Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart.

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

NCT07602283

Music for Pain and Dementia

Recruiting
NAAges 50–80InterventionalSupportive care
Yale University
~60 participants
Updated 2026-06-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Drumming sessionMusic-listening session

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in pain phenotyping using a Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)
Measured over Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease
Dementia
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Peer-bonded Caregiver
Caregiver

Explore related trials

Alzheimer's DiseaseCaregiverChronic PainDementiaMild cognitive disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Connecticut1

Study leadership

  • AZA Allsop, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University

Who to contact

AZA Allsop, MD, PhD
[email protected]
240-422-3289
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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

What this trial measures

  • Change in pain phenotyping using a Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)Weeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart

    Pain phenotyping before and after the intervention using a Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). QST will be used to measure pain threshold (the point at which pain is first felt) and pain tolerance (the point at which the participant discontinues the test due to pain). The battery includes several nociceptive modalities such as pressure, mechanical, heat, and cold stimuli. The main outcome will be a composite pain sensitivity measure, integrating data from the QST battery.

  • Change in pain central sensitizationWeeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart

    Quanititative sensory testing (QST) will be used to assess central sensitization before and after an 8-week drum circle intervention. A central sensitization score will be generated by averaging mechanical temporal summation (TSP), thermal TSP, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Negative values will denote antinociception, and positive values will denote pronociception (or central sensitization).

  • Change in cortisol levelsWeeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart

    Collecting blood to measure cortisol levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)

  • Change in oxytocin levelsWeeks 1 and 10, an average of 9 weeks apart

    Collecting blood to measure oxytocin levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)