Music-based program to support thinking and mood for adults 65+ at risk for Alzheimer's
Official title: Project CHROMA: A Randomized Trial of a Scalable Music Creativity Intervention for Mild Cognitive Impairment-Neural Moderators and Cellular Mechanisms
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11450606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical trial tests a six-week, hands-on music creativity program to help people 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment feel mentally sharper and happier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $826,582 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG098667-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment who can participate in music activities and telehealth assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience noticeable cognitive or mood improvements.
What this research studies
If you have mild cognitive impairment, you may be eligible to participate in a study that compares three different music programs over six weeks. One group does a structured music creation course, another does music listening and appreciation, and a third experiences personalized listening at home. Participants will have assessments before, right after the program, and at follow-ups up to six months, plus optional brain scans and blood tests to understand brain changes. The study aims to link any cognitive or emotional benefits to underlying brain and biology changes. This is conducted at Rice University with centralized randomization and careful program delivery to ensure quality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Participants could experience improved mood and everyday thinking abilities and contribute to knowledge that may help future people with memory concerns.
How similar studies have gone: Previous music-based approaches have shown potential benefits, but this study tests a scalable, structured program with mechanistic links to brain biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul
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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.