Harp melodies may tame Dementia's sundowning storm
NCT ID NCT07748013
First seen Aug 05, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether weekly live harp music sessions can reduce behavioral symptoms like agitation and anxiety in nursing home residents with moderate-to-severe dementia. Participants in memory care units will listen to a harp therapist play during the late afternoon, a time when such symptoms often worsen. Researchers will track changes in behavior, medication use, and well-being over 12 weeks, with follow-up assessments after the sessions end.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Harp therapy (receptive music therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If harp therapy proves effective, it could offer a drug-free way to reduce agitation and anxiety in people with dementia, potentially improving quality of life and reducing reliance on medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-center study without a control group, so results may not apply broadly. The benefits of music therapy can vary widely between individuals, and the study does not yet prove long-term effectiveness.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Villa Eléonore
Montlouis-sur-Loire, 37270, France
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