Investigating the Effects of a Museum Intervention on the Psychological and Cardiac Health of Older Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In a recent report, the World Organization for Health provided some evidence that artistic and cultural activities can support the health and well-being of the population. Our previous research suggests that the effect of museum visits on well-being and stress might be tied to relaxing proprieties of contact with art objects, especially when the artwork is viewed with an introspective and self-reflexive approach. This study addresses the effect of a well-being museum intervention of six weeks on cerebral activity associated with artwork contemplation during a museum visit and assesses how it affects the psychological and cardiovascular health of older adults with and without atrial fibrillation. The well-being intervention will engage the participant in a series of 6 visits, in groups of 10, oriented on his feelings, impressions, and interpretations of artworks. This well-being museum intervention will be compared to visits typically provided in the museum, in a cross-over single-blinded design.

Official Title
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HeART-BRAIN : Investigating the Effects of a Museum Intervention on the Psychological and Cardiac Health of Older Adults With and Without Atrial Fibrillation

Conditions
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Atrial Fibrillation Recurrent, Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Experimental: Well-being intervention followed by classic intervention
* Other: Experimental: Classic intervention followed by well-being intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men/women aged 50 and over, Presenting normal or corrected vision and hearing, With or without controlled Atrial fibrillation, No specific expertise in visual arts (official degree or training relating to the visual arts), Occasionally attended museums and exhibitions (≤ 6 times per year). Exclusion Criteria: Score > 5/15 on the geriatric depression scale, Score on the telephone version of the MMSE < 19, Psychiatric or neurological diagnosis, Presence of major functional limitations likely to affect the individual's ability to stand and walk independently.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Well-Being Museum intervention<br>The well-being intervention comprises six weeks of weekly museum visits, performed in groups of 10 participants. The well-being approach is based on the support of a museum mediator. His role is to help visitors to develop a more personal and sensitive understanding of artworks. To do this, he encourages the expression of feelings, impressions, and interpretations of the artwork, and supports exchanges within the group of visitors. With the mediator's support, the participants should be able to adopt a more subjective approach to the artwork, favoring their engagement when contemplating it. | Other: Experimental: Well-being intervention followed by classic intervention<br>* 2 x 6 weeks of weekly museum visits<br>Other: Experimental: Classic intervention followed by well-being intervention<br>* 2 x 6 weeks of weekly museum visits<br>|
| Active Comparator: Classic Museum intervention<br>The classic intervention comprises six weeks of weekly museum visits, performed in groups of 10 participants. The classic museum session will be performed according to what is typically provided to visitors as part of a guided visit to the museum. Each visit will be accompanied by a volunteer guide trained in art history. He will guide participants across artworks and provide information about art pieces, the artist, and the historical context. The volunteer guide will provide context and informative content about the artwork without intending to influence the discussions and the visitor's apprehension of the artwork. | Other: Experimental: Well-being intervention followed by classic intervention<br>* 2 x 6 weeks of weekly museum visits<br>Other: Experimental: Classic intervention followed by well-being intervention<br>* 2 x 6 weeks of weekly museum visits<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the activity evoked within the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during the contemplation of artwork | Hemodynamic variations in the region of interest (concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin [HbO2], no units). | Before and after the 6 weeks of interventions | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in the activity evoked within the medial prefrontal cortex during the contemplation of artwork | Hemodynamic variations in the region of interest (concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin [HbO2], no units). | Before and after the 6 weeks of interventions | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stress, Museum visits, Neurocognition, Cardiovascular functioning