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Train the brain with music (TBM): Brain plasticity and cognitive benefits induced by musical training in elderly people in Germany and Switzerland, a study protocol for an RCT comparing musical instrumental practice to sensitization to music
James,Clara E. Altenmueller,Eckart Kliegel,Matthias Krueger,Tillmann H. C. van de Ville,Dimitri Worschech,Florian Abdili,Laura Scholz,Daniel S. Juenemann,Kristin Hering,Alexandra
James,Clara E.
Altenmueller,Eckart
Kliegel,Matthias
Krueger,Tillmann H. C.
van de Ville,Dimitri
Worschech,Florian
Abdili,Laura
Scholz,Daniel S.
Juenemann,Kristin
Hering,Alexandra
Abstract
Background: Recent data suggest that musical practice prevents age-related cognitive decline. But experimental evidence remains sparse and no concise information on the neurophysiological bases exists, although cognitive decline represents a major impediment to healthy aging. A challenge in the field of aging is developing training regimens that stimulate neuroplasticity and delay or reverse symptoms of cognitive and cerebral decline. To be successful, these regimens should be easily integrated in daily life and intrinsically motivating. This study combines for the first-time protocolled music practice in elderly with cutting-edge neuroimaging and behavioral approaches, comparing two types of musical education. Methods: We conduct a two-site Hannover-Geneva randomized intervention study in altogether 155 retired healthy elderly (64–78) years, (63 in Geneva, 92 in Hannover), offering either piano instruction (experimental group) or musical listening awareness (control group). Over 12 months all participants receive weekly training for 1 hour, and exercise at home for ~ 30 min daily. Both groups study different music styles. Participants are tested at 4 time points (0, 6, and 12 months & post-training (18 months)) on cognitive and perceptual-motor aptitudes as well as via wide-ranging functional and structural neuroimaging and blood sampling. Discussion: We aim to demonstrate positive transfer effects for faculties traditionally described to decline with age, particularly in the piano group: executive functions, working memory, processing speed, abstract thinking and fine motor skills. Benefits in both groups may show for verbal memory, hearing in noise and subjective well-being. In association with these behavioral benefits we anticipate functional and structural brain plasticity in temporal (medial and lateral), prefrontal and parietal areas and the basal ganglia. We intend exhibiting for the first time that musical activities can provoke important societal impacts by diminishing cognitive and perceptual-motor decline supported by functional and structural brain plasticity. Trial registration: The Ethikkomission of the Leibniz Universität Hannover approved the protocol on 14.08.17 (no. 3604–2017), the neuroimaging part and blood sampling was approved by the Hannover Medical School on 07.03.18. The full protocol was approved by the Commission cantonale d’éthique de la recherche de Genève (no. 2016–02224) on 27.02.18 and registered at clinicaltrials.gov on 17.09.18 (NCT03674931, no. 81185).
Description
Funding Information: German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG no. 323965454) Funding Information: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF no. 100019E-170410) Funding Information: CEJ wrote a first version of this manuscript, based on a Lead Agency (LA) grant proposal submitted to the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation) , written and submitted by EA and CEJ as main investigators. Detailed input to the LA grant proposal was provided by MK, DVDV and TK. MK and TK are co-investigators, DVDV is scientific partner (SNSF) of the LA project. Postdoc DM importantly contributed to the writing of this manuscript and also to the finalization of the study protocol, concerning psychometric testing, MRI protocols and MRI scanner synchronization between Hannover and Geneva. The finalization of the study protocol was performed in collaboration with FG, FW, DSS, AH, LA & KJ, after the acceptation of the grant. All authors have read and approved the submitted manuscript.
Date
2020
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Research Projects
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Keywords
Music induced brain and behavioral plasticity, Age-related cognitive decline, One-year music practice, Randomized controlled trial, Working memory, Executive functions, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Voxel based Morphometry (VBM), Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), Multivariate data-driven analyses, LONG-TERM-MEMORY, OLDER-ADULTS, WORKING-MEMORY, CORTICAL THICKNESS, AUDITORY-CORTEX, BROCAS AREA, AGING MIND, LIFE-STYLE, SCALE, SIZE
Citation
James, C E, Altenmueller, E, Kliegel, M, Krueger, T H C, van de Ville, D, Worschech, F, Abdili, L, Scholz, D S, Juenemann, K, Hering, A, Grouiller, F, Sinke, C & Marie, D 2020, 'Train the brain with music (TBM) : Brain plasticity and cognitive benefits induced by musical training in elderly people in Germany and Switzerland, a study protocol for an RCT comparing musical instrumental practice to sensitization to music', BMC Geriatrics, vol. 20, no. 1, 418. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01761-y