Art Therapy and Music Reminiscence Activity in the Prevention of Cognitive Decline
Condition: Mild Cognitive Impairment
MeSH terms: Cognitive Dysfunction
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The objective of this study is to determine the impact of Art Therapy and Music Reminiscence
      Activity on cognition in community living elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment (DSM V: Mild
      Neurocognitive Disorder) using a randomized control design.

      Specifically, the structural cerebral changes that occur with the two interventions and the
      extent to which the therapies may reverse cognitive impairment and/or prevent further
      cognitive decline, will be determined.

      The hypothesis is that participants in both active intervention arms will perform better on
      neuropsychological tests of cognition and will show positive changes on functional imaging
      studies compared to controls who will not receive any intervention. Participants in the
      interventions will also have positive changes in blood biomarkers, enhanced psychological
      well-being and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group.
      No a priori hypotheses were developed as to whether Art Therapy or Music Reminiscence
      Activity is more effective as the comparison is exploratory.
    

Detailed description: 
      Participants: 90 community-living elderly, with mild cognitive impairment.

      Interventions: Participants will be randomized into 3 arms: Art Therapy, Music Reminiscence
      Activity or a Control arm. Sessions will be conducted weekly for 3 months and fortnightly for
      6 months. Each intervention session will last for 40 minutes. The Control group will not
      receive any intervention and continue their life as usual.

      Assessments: Demographic data will be collected at baseline. Neuropsychological tests of
      cognitive functioning will be done at baseline, 3 months and 9 months. Anxiety and depressive
      symptoms will be assessed at the 3 time-points. Blood sampling will occur at all time points
      (except control group, only at baseline and 9 months). Participants will also undergo a
      task-free brain fMRI scan at baseline and at 3 months.
    

Intervention name(s): Art Therapy; Music Reminiscence Activity
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The Art Therapy will consist of creating art pieces, narrating thoughts and inner experiences in relation to the pieces produced (2 sessions a month) and guided visits to the art gallery (one session a month) and art museum (one session a month); there will be 12 sessions weekly for 12 weeks. For the next 6 months, sessions will be fortnightly and consist of creating an art piece once a month alternating with a visit to either the art museum or gallery, once a month; there will be 12 sessions in 6 months. Each session will last 45 minutes and will begin with 5 minutes of mindful relaxation to help participants focus on the task ahead.; Music Reminiscence activity will be held weekly for 12 weeks and fortnightly for 6 months. Each session will last 45 minutes and will begin with 5 minutes of mindful relaxation to help participants focus on the task ahead. Session will entail listening and watching music videos and discussing activities, events and experiences related to the music; additional prompts such as photographs may be used to facilitate therapy.
Other intervention name(s): AT; MRA
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Prevention of Cognitive Decline; Art Therapy; Music Reminiscence Activity; Elderly