CIMAC

This study is based at the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease. It  examinines the impact of improvisatory music on anxiety in individuals with Alzheimer’s and/or their care partners. Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music (CDIM) reduce anxiety and bring feelings of calm and pleasure to the listener. We have some preliminary data that supports the efficacy and mechanism of action of this method. This method has also been used for doctors and other health professionals to relief stress and anxiety.

Eligibility:

1- Individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (confirmed by spinal fluid, blood test, or amyloid PET scan)

2- Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Participants of this study will receive 8 sessions of music interventions free of charge. There will be 2 evaluations before and one evaluation after the interventions. We will also obtain one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study before and one after the intervention. This study is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Sound Health Networks, and the Northwestern Osher Center for Integrative Health.

For questions or to be included in the program you can email nmmp@northwestern.edu.

References

1- CDIM was offered first as a part of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) tele-music intervention during  COVID-19 pandemic. It received national media coverage (click on the images for the link to WSJ and NBC Nightly News coverage). 

2- Results NMH tele-music intervention  from the  were published in Frontiers in Neurology in 2021.  

3- CDIM has been used to decrease health care workers' distress with positive effects.  Results in 429 healthcare providers showed likelihood to recommended CDIM at a rate of 93%  with positive effects on emotion, decreased tension and increased levels of energy following CDIM. Click the link below to see the abstract presented at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology:

4- Study of brain waves using electroencephalography (EEG) has shown the CDIM induces decreased feeling of tension by slowing brain waves from a higher frequency (beta) to a lower frequency (alpha). This effect was more noticeable in the front and middle regions of the brain that are engaged in processing of emotions and social interactions. Click on the link below to see the article published in Frontiers in Neurology.