Attention-based music listening to improve hearing in noisy places for older adults
Official title: Following the Sound of Music - Comparing the Effects of Music vs. Non-Music Based Interventions on Auditory and Cognitive Processing in Older Adults
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11394168 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares an attention-focused music listening program to other listening activities to see if it helps older adults, including those at risk for Alzheimer's, understand speech better in noisy settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $542,577 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG073668-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394168 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults who experience difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments or who are concerned about age-related memory or cognitive decline, including those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
People with severe or untreated hearing loss that requires medical or implantable intervention, or individuals with advanced dementia who cannot follow study procedures, are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would take part in an attention-based music listening program designed to build auditory and attentional skills similar to formal musical training. The study compares this music intervention against two active control listening activities to separate effects of music from attention. Participants complete tests of hearing speech in noisy environments, basic auditory processing, and cognitive tasks before and after the intervention. The researchers will analyze changes to learn how music might support hearing, attention, and thinking in older adults and whether that could reduce social isolation or cognitive decline risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help older adults hear speech more clearly in noisy places, reduce social isolation, and support healthier thinking as they age.
How similar studies have gone: Observational studies have linked musical training to better speech-in-noise perception and preserved cognition, but randomized experimental evidence is limited so this approach is promising but not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
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Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaeggi, Susanne M — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Jaeggi, Susanne M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.