# The power of 40 Hz sound/music for older adults with mild cognitive impairment

> **NIH NIH R21** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $245,625

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
There are limited treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD) and its associated progressive
cognitive impairment, calling for target interventions that potentially slow the progression of cognitive decline,
prevent, or delay the onset of AD in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). One promising treatment
possibility is auditory stimulation at gamma frequencies. Emerging research suggests that 40 Hz sound may
stimulate gamma oscillations and enhance cognitive function in older adults, but much remains unknown. Our
group has created a novel 40 Hz music intervention, which may provide similar gamma entrainment, and is
likely more aesthetically pleasing, allowing an evaluation of the long-term use of 40 Hz stimulation on cognitive
function. We will conduct a 3-treatment 3-period pilot crossover trial to test the feasibility and preliminary
efficacy of 40 Hz music (Condition A), 40 Hz sound (Condition B) and preferred music (Condition C) on neural
gamma activity and cognitive function in 30 community-dwelling older adults with amnestic MCI. The
participants will be randomized to three groups with different sequences of exposure to all three conditions. To
examine the effect of the three conditions on gamma entrainment, participants will first undergo an acute
music/sound stimulation session and a scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) will be recorded during the session.
Next, the participants will be instructed to listen to the assigned sequence of conditions, with each condition for
four weeks (1 h/day, 5 days/week). There will be a 10-day wash-out break between each condition. Semi-
structured interviews will be conducted after completing each condition. The specific aims are as follows: Aim
1: Evaluate the feasibility of the study and the three conditions: 40 Hz music, 40 Hz sound, and Preferred
Music in older adults with MCI. Qualitative data will be used to understand the participant's experience and
acceptability of the three conditions; Aim 2: Determine the preliminary efficacy of 40 Hz music for four weeks
on cognitive function compared with 40 Hz sound and Preferred Music; Aim 3: Evaluate the effect of 40 Hz
music and 40 Hz sound on gamma entrainment during the acute stimulation session. This study will be the first
to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of innovative 40 Hz music and 40 Hz sound interventions on
cognitive function in older adults with MCI, a high-risk population for AD. Findings from this study will provide
important evidence for future development, selection, evaluation, and implementation of music/sound
interventions for cognitive health in older adults with MCI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10509893
- **Project number:** 1R21AG078917-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Junxin Li
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $245,625
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10509893

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10509893, The power of 40 Hz sound/music for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (1R21AG078917-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10509893. Licensed CC0.

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