NIH-funded research R01 grant

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.

More Cognitive Impairment research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRice University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2026
Project endAugust 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$826,582
NIH project number1R01AG098667-01A1
Project IDNIH-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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.