Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in ELderly care (MIDDEL)

MIDDEL is a large international research project investigating the effect of music interventions to reduce depressive symptoms among elderly with dementia living in care homes. Dementia and depression are relatively common conditions in older adults, and are associated with substantial individual distress, burden for care providers, and high societal costs. Meanwhile, music interventions represent a highly promising type of non-pharmacological interventions for both dementia and depression in older adults. They are widely used, but have yet to be rigorously tested in large trials. The MIDDEL trial Is the largest trial of music interventions to date, and the first to compare two different approaches group music therapy (GMT), and recreational choir singing (RCS) alone and in combination across countries. A total of 86 care home units were recruited and randomized to four study conditions: GMT, RCS, both interventions, or neither intervention. Participants were care home residents aged 65 years or older with dementia and depressive symptoms. Recruitment was finalized in January 2023, with over a thousand participating residents across the care home units. Twelve of these were in Norway (Bergen and Kinn municipalities). The project period ended on Dec 31st 2023, and findings will be analyzed and submitted for publication in 2024. Outcomes include depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life, medication use, and costs. These were assessed at month 0, 3, 6 and 12. The primary outcome is the change in residents scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at 6 months. Staff at the care home units could also participate by responding to questions about care team burden. Study sites were located in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom. MIDDEL was hosted by GAMUT - The Grieg Academy Music Therapy Centre, NORCE. For more information and updates, please visit the MIDDEL project website: https://www.middel-project.eu or follow us on Facebook https://facebook.com/MIDDELproject