Music may soothe hospital confusion for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients
NCT ID NCT07137949
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests a personalized music therapy program to prevent delirium (sudden confusion) in hospitalized people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Thirty participants will receive up to five live music sessions tailored to their preferences. Researchers will measure how feasible the therapy is and whether it reduces delirium symptoms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- music therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to reduce confusion and improve hospital stays for people with brain diseases.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study (30 people) with no comparison group, so results may not be generalizable. The therapy may not prevent delirium or may be hard to deliver consistently.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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60 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Admitted as inpatient to Boston Medical Center. * Cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases as defined by either: * Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (ICD-10 G20 and G31.83 respectively), Alzheimer's Disease-related dementias (ICD-10 6D80), vascular dementia (F01), or other cognitive impairment (R41) on active problem list or past medical history * "Cognitive impairment" on active problem list or past medical history * Documentation elsewhere in the electronic medical record (e.g. notes) of any of these conditions * Participants with cognitive impairment will be included. If unable to consent, legally authorized representative (LAR) based on HRP-013-SOP-LARs, Children, and Guardians will be contacted to consent. * Spanish speaking participants will be included. Screening and informed consent procedures will be conducted using a certified medical interpreter. All intervention sessions and study team interactions will be conducted using these interpreter services. * Patients admitted to an intensive care unit will be included as long as they are not receiving continuous intravenous sedative medications. Potential participants in the intensive care unit setting will be discussed with a PI/co-I to ensure participation is appropriate on a case-by-case basis. The PI/Co-I will confirm with the treating physician that there are no reasons as to why the potential participant should not be enrolled in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Admitted to observation status (as these patients would not be expected to remain inpatient long enough to undergo the MT intervention) * Patients who will be discharged within 24 hours of eligibility based on discussion with primary admitting team * Self-reported history of musicogenic seizures * Hearing loss: unable to hear a recorded sound \<70 decibels (dB) * Dislike of music: Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire score of \<40 * Patients who are currently prisoners * Patients in the intensive care unit receiving continuous intravenous sedative medication * Pregnant women
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Boston Medical Center
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
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