NCT07602283 · RECRUITING
Music for Pain and Dementia
This study tests whether group drumming sessions affect pain sensitivity and brain activity in people with early Alzheimer's disease, mild dementia, or MCI who also have chronic pain. Participants attend an 8-week community drum circle alongside a caregiver partner. Researchers measure brain waves, heart rate, hormones, and pain responses before and after. Phase NA means this is a mechanistic research study, not a standard drug or device efficacy trial.
You may qualify if
- 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
You're excluded if
- 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
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-06-12