The MultiMusic multidomain intervention including choral practice in community-dwelling older people: A study protocol for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) salivary biomarkers, audiometric and neuropsychological parameters

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in neuroplasticity, supporting brain health along life and even during aging. This longitudinal study investigates the impact of a 9-month multidomain intervention, including choral practice, on BDNF levels, audiometric and neuropsychological outcomes, in older adults, assessed also for their multidimensional frailty, based on their physical, cognitive and nutritional conditions. BDNF levels, along with geriatric, neuropsychological, audiometric and neurophysiological measures, are taken, via saliva samples, both pre- and post-intervention. For BDNF longitudinal analyses, up to 80 elderly will be randomly assigned to an experimental group participating in a 9 month long multidomain program of activities including choir, physical, intellectual and manual activities or to an active control group participating in physical, intellectual or manual non-musical activities for 9 months or to a passive control group. Participation in daily activities for all groups will be monitored via diaries. Our primary goal is to investigate whether engaging in physical, cognitive and social multidomain activities can enhance neuroplasticity as measured by BDNF levels, to contrast aspects of multidimensional frailty (as assessed by the multidimensional prognostic score, MPI) in the aging population. Secondly, we aim to relate changes in BDNF levels to the perceptual and cognitive domains and psychosocial well-being. Although previous studies point out the positive effects of musical training and active aging on brain health, the scarcity of longitudinal research on effects on BDNF for older individuals keeps the issue open. Moreover, we aim to test whether non-invasive, accessible saliva-based BDNF measurements, despite some reliability limitations, could offer indications of neuroprotection in aging.