Biometrically personalized AI-driven music to calm dementia symptoms
Official title: Novel AI-driven music-based intervention to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms for people living with dementia
Funded at Rubato, INC. · NIH-11393881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An AI-powered music program automatically creates personalized playlists to help reduce agitation, anxiety, and mood problems in adults living with dementia, without needing a clinician to guide it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rubato, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pacific Palisades, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,043 |
| NIH project number | 5R41AG092161-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who reside in nursing homes.
✕Less likely to help
The intervention may be less effective for individuals with severe sensory impairments or who cannot tolerate music-based approaches.
What this research studies
This project uses artificial intelligence to tailor music playlists based on physiological signals that indicate stress, aiming to lessen behavioral and psychological symptoms in people with dementia. It focuses on a practical, user-friendly approach that doesn’t require participants to share their music preferences verbally or rely on trained staff. The study will develop and test protocols to safely apply this biometrically tailored Rubato music intervention in nursing home residents and collect outcomes that show whether it can help with BPSD. Researchers will measure feasibility, safety, and acceptability, while also capturing data on potential mood and behavior changes. If successful, this approach could offer a scalable, non-drug option to improve quality of life for people with dementia and support caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with dementia could experience calmer days and less distress through personalized music without needing staff intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies in healthy adults and people with dementia suggest music-based interventions can help, and AI-driven personalization is a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
-
Rubato, INC.
Pacific Palisades, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koffler, Richard — Rubato, INC.
- Study coordinator: Koffler, Richard
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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.