Research Network to Accelerate Mechanistic Studies of Music for Dementia (RN-MusD)

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ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) represent the most common causes of dementia (cognition decline that leads to a loss of independent function) among adults. Approximately 1 in 9 Americans age 65 and over (11%) lives with dementia from AD, representing approximately 6.5 million people; prevalence rates increase when including related dementias. There are currently no treatments that prevent or halt the progression of dementia, although the 6 FDA-approved medications can help slow symptoms. Living with AD/ADRD is associated with loss of independence, disability, poor health and well-being (morbidity), and increased mortality. The care needs for people living with dementia (PLWD) are complex. Providing care is associated with high costs and considerable caregiver burden. There are also considerable health disparities for PLWD from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. Thus, there is an immediate need to identify novel, accessible, culturally relevant, and cost-effective approaches to reduce the burden and improve quality of life for older adults living with these common neurodegenerative diseases without a cure. We have known for over 35 years that people living with AD can meaningfully engage with music, even into the late stages. An increasing number of studies conclude that PLWD who participate in music therapy or music-based interventions (MBIs) experience improvements in quality of life, and emotional well-being as well as decreases in behavior issues, anxiety, and depression. Despite these promising findings, the number of studies is small, many are low quality, samples lack diversity, and the underlying mechanisms are not yet well understood. In addition, little is known about potential benefits of MBIs for people living with related dementias (ADRD). Studies using the NIH Stage Model and Science of Behavior Change methods can help improve study quality and provide a framework for developing and testing MBIs in the context of AD/ADRD. Moreover, use of novel mobile body-brain imaging (MoBI) technologies could help elucidate how MBIs affect various functions of the brain (including neuromodulation) and body in real-world settings. To accelerate rigorous research about the mechanisms by which MBIs impact health and well-being for adults with AD/ADRD, we will create the multi-disciplinary Research Network to Accelerate Mechanistic Studies of Music for Dementia (RN-MusD). The Network, representing experts from cognitive neuroscience, music therapy, biomedical and neural engineering, geriatrics, and statistics will create three core nodes at the University of California San Francisco, University of Houston, and Arizona State University. The Network will accelerate rigorous, multi-disciplinary, and mechanistic studies of MBIs in the context of AD/ADRD by accomplishing the following aims: (1) build a collaborative Network that will grow over time; (2) promote multidisciplinary collaborations through a pilot project program, leveraging MoBI and research mentoring, and (3) disseminate resources generated by our Network to sustain impact.