NCT02854085

Art Therapy and Music Reminiscence Activity in the Prevention of Cognitive Decline

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 68 (actual)
• Sponsor: National University of Singapore · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of Art Therapy and Music Reminiscence Activity on cognition in community living elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment (DSM V: Mild Neurocognitive Disorder) using a randomized control design. Specifically, the structural cerebral changes that occur with the two interventions and the extent to which the therapies may reverse cognitive impairment and/or prevent further cognitive decline, will be determined. The hypothesis is that participants in both active intervention arms will perform better on neuropsychological tests of cognition and will show positive changes on functional imaging studies compared to controls who will not receive any intervention. Participants in the interventions will also have positive changes in blood biomarkers, enhanced psychological well-being and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group. No a priori hypotheses were developed as to whether Art Therapy or Music Reminiscence Activity is more effective as the comparison is exploratory.

Detailed description

Participants: 90 community-living elderly, with mild cognitive impairment. Interventions: Participants will be randomized into 3 arms: Art Therapy, Music Reminiscence Activity or a Control arm. Sessions will be conducted weekly for 3 months and fortnightly for 6 months. Each intervention session will last for 40 minutes. The Control group will not receive any intervention and continue their life as usual. Assessments: Demographic data will be collected at baseline. Neuropsychological tests of cognitive functioning will be done at baseline, 3 months and 9 months. Anxiety and depressive symptoms will be assessed at the 3 time-points. Blood sampling will occur at all time points (except control group, only at baseline and 9 months). Participants will also undergo a task-free brain fMRI scan at baseline and at 3 months.

Conditions

• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Art Therapy	The Art Therapy will consist of creating art pieces, narrating thoughts and inner experiences in relation to the pieces produced (2 sessions a month) and guided visits to the art gallery (one session a month) and art museum (one session a month); there will be 12 sessions weekly for 12 weeks. For the next 6 months, sessions will be fortnightly and consist of creating an art piece once a month alternating with a visit to either the art museum or gallery, once a month; there will be 12 sessions in 6 months. Each session will last 45 minutes and will begin with 5 minutes of mindful relaxation to help participants focus on the task ahead.
BEHAVIORAL	Music Reminiscence Activity	Music Reminiscence activity will be held weekly for 12 weeks and fortnightly for 6 months. Each session will last 45 minutes and will begin with 5 minutes of mindful relaxation to help participants focus on the task ahead. Session will entail listening and watching music videos and discussing activities, events and experiences related to the music; additional prompts such as photographs may be used to facilitate therapy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-07-01
• Primary completion: 2017-04-01
• Completion: 2017-05-01
• First posted: 2016-08-03
• Last updated: 2018-01-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Singapore