Project Title: 

Effectiveness of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music on Anxiety in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease

Funding detail: 
NEA Research Grant
Institution: 
Northwestern University
Principal Investigator: 
Borna Bonakdarpour
Project summary: 

To support a mixed-methods study that will examine the effectiveness of a clinically designed improvisational music program on anxiety among older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Additional Project Description: Under a single group, multi-phased design, all participants will serve as a control group for the study and will engage in a "no-intervention" period, followed by the intervention itself. During the music intervention sessions, participants will attend virtual and in-person improvisational music experiences. Multiple assessments will be collected before and after the no-intervention period and the intervention period, to test for changes for a period of time. Researchers will collect information on anxiety and worry, and, through physiological assessments, data on heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and brain images. Intended Beneficiaries: This project has the potential to benefit older adults with anxiety and mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, their caretakers, and other working partners and community collaborators such as healthcare providers, music therapists, and music organizations. Intended Outcome: Research, statistics, and general information about the arts benefit the arts sector and other fields.