Listening to music or playing a musical instrument regularly may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults.
Australian researchers have found that older adults over 70 who regularly listen to music have a nearly 40% lower risk of developing dementia. Playing a musical instrument reduces the risk by approximately 35%.
Researchers analyzed data from two other large studies, examining the music listening and instrument playing habits of 10,893 Australians aged 70 and over. The results showed that compared to participants who occasionally listened to music, rarely listened to music, or hardly listened to music at all, older adults who regularly listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia and a 17% lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment after three years. Furthermore, they performed better on cognitive tests and episodic memory tests, indicating better overall cognition and recall of daily events.
The combined effect is even better, with a more significant protective effect against cognitive decline. Regularly playing a musical instrument and listening to music can reduce the risk of dementia by approximately 35% and mild cognitive impairment by approximately 22%.
The lead author of the research report is Emma Jaffa, a public health researcher at Monash University in Australia. According to a report from Monash University, she noted that the findings suggest older adults can maintain cognitive health through relatively simple methods like musical activities, although a causal relationship cannot be confirmed.
Further Reading
Professor Joanne Ryan of Monash University, who co-led the study with her, pointed out that there is currently no cure for dementia, so it is essential to find ways to prevent or slow its progression. "Data shows that brain aging is not only related to age and genes, but is also influenced by an individual's environment and lifestyle."
The research report was published on October 14 in the *International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry*.
