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Feasibility of Randomized Manualized Music Training Program as a Cognitive Intervention for Older Adults at High Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Award Number: R34AG093142
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/18/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2029

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Feasibility of Randomized Manualized Music Training Program as a Cognitive Intervention for Older Adults at High Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias - Project Summary (Abstract): Developing interventions that might prevent or delay cognitive decline is critical given the rapidly growing aging population and anticipated increase in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Music-based interventions (MBIs), which include active music training (MT) and music listening (ML), are associated with healthier brain morphology in regions that commonly decline with age and in preclinical stages of AD/ADRD. However, while MBIs show promise as a low-cost behavioral treatment for cognitive decline, establishing their effectiveness for an aging population will require improving understanding of mechanisms underlying cognitive change and increasing the rigor of methodological procedures. Based on our promising pilot study and the NIH-MBI toolkit, which will facilitate future replication and reproducibility of this work, the proposed research aims to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel economical and mentally stimulating manualized 12-week active MT cognitive intervention that was developed using community-based participatory research (CBPR) procedures. Results from the pilot study showed high acceptability of this MBI in older adults who ranged from normal cognition (NC) to Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI), an intermediary stage between NC and dementia. Additionally, pre-post testing found statistically significant improvements in global cognition and executive function at post-intervention. However, given no control group, a specific aim of this R34 grant is to expand this preliminary work by examining the feasibility and acceptability of a well-matched ML comparator group to our 12-week MT that teaches music-making skills using an affordable portable Soprano recorder. Using a pilot RCT design, primary outcomes will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MT as compared to ML in a balanced representation of older adults with NC and MCI (Aim 1). Although there is evidence that ML engages cognitive processes, based on neuroscientific evidence, our central hypothesis is that MT in comparison to ML will be more effective at enhancing executive function as playing a musical instrument requires sensorimotor integration and attentional control, which actively engages frontal and parietal brain networks. We thus aim to establish the sensitivity and specificity of the hypothesized proximal mechanistic biomarkers (cognitive-control networks) and distal outcome measure of global cognition by evaluating the minimum clinically important difference using sensitive and specific proximal measures (cognitive load dual- task gait speed and NIH-Toolbox tests of inhibitory control) and a well-validated comprehensive measure of global cognition (Aim 2). This proposal has assembled a multidisciplinary team with collective expertise to successfully carry out this R34 project, which will inform a larger efficacy trial and create new knowledge regarding the feasibility and acceptability of an innovative multimodal MBI based on the principles of the NIH- MBI toolkit. If shown to be effective, this project has the potential to lead to a scalable evidence-based cognitive intervention that may be recommended to reduce the risk for AD/ADRD.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $180,582 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM	5717 CORBETT HALL	ORONO	ME	04469	PENOBSCOT	USA	Aging Research	000	1	9/17/2026	NEW	$180,582
														Subtotal = $180,582

Grand Total All Awards = $180,582

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Feasibility of Randomized Manualized Music Training Program as a Cognitive Intervention for Older Adults at High Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Award Number: R34AG093142

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/18/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2029

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