Tune Den — a music app to help people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers
Developing a therapeutic, music-based mobile application to combat neuropsychiatric symptoms in people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
This project will create Tune Den, a music app that uses heart rate and movement signals to help people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their family caregivers reduce agitation and improve mood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Autotune Me LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196744 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I live with Alzheimer’s or care for someone who does, this app would play personalized songs and adjust tempo and melody based on a wearable’s heart rate and movement to help calm agitation and boost mood. The app learns which songs work best by tracking heart-rate and activity responses and noting each person’s preferred music. Caregivers can use Tune Den at home to deliver these music sessions without needing institutional support. The aim is to increase relaxation and gentle activity and to reduce behaviors that sometimes lead to medication changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who experience agitation or mood symptoms, have a willing family caregiver, and can use a smartphone and a wearable device.
Not a fit: People without access to a smartphone or compatible wearable, those with profound hearing loss that prevents enjoyment of music, or those whose symptoms do not respond to music may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Tune Den could reduce agitation and depressive symptoms, increase activity and mood stability, and help delay or reduce the need for some medications.
How similar studies have performed: Other music-based interventions have reduced agitation and depression in dementia, but a personalized app that responds to heart rate and movement is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, UNITED STATES
- Autotune Me LLC — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Kendra — Autotune Me LLC
- Study coordinator: Ray, Kendra
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 below.