Feasibility of home group singing for older adults with mild cognitive decline
Official title: Feasibility of Tele-Singing at Home for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Decline
Funded at Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11335693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A home-based, tele-singing program is being tested to see if it can help older adults with mild cognitive impairment maintain thinking skills and mood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $229,950 |
| NIH project number | 5R34AG088846-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335693 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 60 and older with mild cognitive impairment or early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience noticeable cognitive or mood benefits from the tele-singing program.
What this research studies
This project explores a light-touch, remote singing program designed for seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Participants will join singing sessions from home using internet access, guided by trained instructors. The study will track engagement, cognitive function, mood, and quality of life to see if singing online can slow decline or improve daily living experiences. Results could inform non-drug options that are easy to access and enjoyable for older adults and caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could offer a scalable, pleasant way to support cognition and well-being for people with MCI or early AD/ADRD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests music-based activities can support cognition and social well-being, but evidence in MCI via remote delivery is limited and requires confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Institute/res/edu
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chao, Linda L — Northern California Institute/res/edu
- Study coordinator: Chao, Linda L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
-
NGF Metabolism as a biomarker for cognitive decline in familial Alzheimer's disease
Researchers are studying whether patterns in nerve growth factor pathways in blood and CSF can signal early, preclinical stages of Alzheimer's in people with genetic risk.
-
NGF metabolism as an early biomarker for cognitive decline in familial Alzheimer's disease
This project tests whether NGF pathway proteins in blood and CSF can signal early, preclinical changes in people with familial Alzheimer’s disease.
-
NGF Metabolic Dysfunction as a Marker of Cognitive Decline in Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease
This project looks at nerve growth factor pathways in people with a genetic form of Alzheimer's to see if blood and spinal fluid markers can identify early brain changes before symptoms appear.
-
Optimizing a closed-loop digital meditation to help cognitive aging and stress in older adults
A mobile, personalized meditation program is being tested to help older adults maintain thinking skills and lower stress.
-
Cash transfers in South Africa to reduce dementia risk in later life
This project tests whether government cash transfers in rural South Africa help protect people’s thinking and memory as they age.
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.