Train the brain with music

Brain Plasticity and cognitive benefits induced by musical practice in elderly people in Germany & Switzerland (SNSF100019E-170410)

2017 - 2021
Terminé
  • Investigateur(s)
    Prof. Clara James (HEdS), Matthias Kliegel (University of Geneva, Psychology Department), Dimitri van De Ville (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne & Faculty of Medecine, University of Geneva), , Laura Abdili, Eckart Altenmueller (Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media), Tillmann Krueger (Hannover Medical School),
  • Financement
    For Switzerland: Swiss National Science Foundation (FNSF) no. 100019E-170410, Fondation Dalle Molle, Stiftung Edith Maryon, Dr. Kurt Fries-Stiftung, For Germany: DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  • Collaborations scientifiques
    Psychology Department, University of Geneva ; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ; Faculty of Medecine, University of Geneva ; Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Hannover Medical School
  • Abstract - English
  • Medias

Age‐related cognitive decline is a major impediment to healthy aging, independence, and well‐being. Incrusted beliefs that aging is solely defined by decline prevent many elderly persons from learning new skills. Our innovative approach proposes learning new skills in healthy elderly after retirement.

We will investigate musical training-driven benefits for aptitudes traditionally designed to decline during normal aging: working memory, executive function, hearing in noise, auditory attention, and fine motor skills, as well as for brain morphology and brain function.

The study follows a longitudinal design, offering intensive piano training versus "musical culture" training (active listening and learning about music) to groups of retired nonmusician elderly (n~150, 60 in Geneva and 90 in Hannover, Germany), over 12 months, with psychometric and cutting‐edge neuroimaging data collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months after training onset, and after a delay of 6 months.

Unveiling specific positive effects of music training and analytic music listening on age‐related cognitive decline can contribute to maintaining mental health and quality of life of older adults, decrease the need for assisted living, and promote such approaches on a large scale in the community.

We expect positive effects from intensive music training on age‐related cognitive decline for working memory and executive function. Functional and structural brain plasticity may show in gray and white matter in different motor, auditory and associative brain areas, especially those involved in working memory and executive functions, particularly in the piano group. Moreover, benefits for hearing in noise and auditory attention may show in both groups, and for fine‐motor skills in the piano group. Finally, the sense of well‐being may improve in both piano and musical culture groups.

Page web HES-SO du projet

Logo Gemmi

Publications

Randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions for healthy seniors: effects on cognitive decline, brain plasticity and activities of daily Living : a 23-year scoping review

James, C. E., Müller, D. M., Müller, C. A. H., Van De Looij, Y., Altenmuller, E., Kliegel, M., Van De Ville, D., Marie, D.

(2024). Randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions for healthy seniors: effects on cognitive decline, brain plasticity and activities of daily Living : a 23-year scoping review : Heliyon.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26674


Auteur(s) : Clara James Yohan Van De Looij

Article scientifique

Increased functional connectivity in the right dorsal auditory stream after a full year of piano training in healthy older adults

Junemann, K., Engels, A., Marie, D., Worschech, F., Scholz, D. S., Grouiller, F., Kliegel, M., Van De Ville, D., Altenmuller, E., Kruger, T. H. C., James, C. E., Sinke, C.

(2023). Increased functional connectivity in the right dorsal auditory stream after a full year of piano training in healthy older adults : Scientific reports.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46513-1


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

Fine motor control improves in older adults after one year of piano lessons: analysis of individual development and its coupling with cognition and brain structure

Worschech, F., James, C. E., Junemann, K., Sinke, C., Kruger, T. H. C., Scholz, D. S., Kliegel, M., Marie, D., Altenmuller, E.

(2023). Fine motor control improves in older adults after one year of piano lessons: analysis of individual development and its coupling with cognition and brain structure : European journal of neuroscience.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.16031


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

Music interventions in 132 healthy older adults enhance cerebellar grey matter and auditory working memory, despite general brain atrophy

Marie, D., Müller, C. A. H., Altenmüller, E., Van De Ville, D., Jünemann, K., Scholz, D. S., Krüger, T. H. C., Worschech, F., Kliegel, M., Sinke, C., James, C. E.

(2023). Music interventions in 132 healthy older adults enhance cerebellar grey matter and auditory working memory, despite general brain atrophy : Neuroimage: reports.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynirp.2023.100166


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

Evidence of cortical thickness increases in bilateral auditory brain structures following piano learning in older adults

Worschech, F., Altenmuller, E., Junemann, K., Sinke, C., Kruger, T.H.C., Scholz, D.S., Muller, C.A.H., Kliegel, M., James, C.E., Marie, D.

(2022). Evidence of cortical thickness increases in bilateral auditory brain structures following piano learning in older adults : Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14762


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

Six months of piano training in healthy elderly stabilizes white matter microstructure in the fornix, compared to an active control group

Jünemann, K., Marie, D. , Worschech, F. , Scholz, D. S. , Grouiller, F. , Kliegel, M. , Van De Ville, D. , James, C. E., Krüger, T. H. C., Altenmüller, E., Sinke, C.

(2022). Six months of piano training in healthy elderly stabilizes white matter microstructure in the fornix, compared to an active control group : Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.817889


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

Improved speech in noise perception in the elderly after six months of musical instruction

Worschech, Florian, Marie, Damien, Jünemann, Kristin, Sinke, Christopher, Kruger, Tillmann H., Grossbach, Michael, Scholz, Daniel S., Abdili, Laura, Kliegel, Matthias , James, Clara E., Altenmüller, Eckart

(2021). Improved speech in noise perception in the elderly after six months of musical instruction : Frontiers in neuroscience.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.696240


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

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, C. E., Altenmüller, E., Kliegel, M., Krüger, 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.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01761-y


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Article scientifique

The impact of music interventions on motorrehabilitation following stroke in elderly

Altenmüller, E., James, Clara E.

(2020). The impact of music interventions on motorrehabilitation following stroke in elderly : Music and the aging brain.

https://doi.org/10.1016/C2018-0-01665-5


Auteur(s) : Clara James

Chapitre de livre

Restez au courant de nos dernières actualités