The Impact of Music on Reducing Dementia Risk in Seniors

A recent study suggests that regularly listening to music or playing musical instruments can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. The study, conducted on more than 10,800 individuals over the age of 70, revealed that consistent music listening can decrease the risk of dementia by 39%, while playing musical instruments reduces the risk by 35%.

The Importance of Music in Enhancing Brain Health

Researchers have found that music might be an effective and enjoyable strategy to maintain brain health in later life stages. Listening to music not only helps reduce the risk of dementia but is also associated with better overall memory performance, including episodic memory used for recalling daily events.

Music is an activity that stimulates several areas of the brain, supporting memory, emotion, and attention functions, all of which may help preserve cognitive functions as one ages. These findings reinforce the idea that lifestyle choices can positively impact brain health and reduce the risks of cognitive decline.

The Protective Effect of Music

The study found that combining music listening with playing instruments provides a stronger protective effect against cognitive decline. Individuals who regularly engaged in both activities were 33% less likely to develop dementia and 22% less likely to experience cognitive decline.

These results suggest that musical activities could be an easy and low-cost way to maintain cognitive health in older adults. This is particularly important given the lack of current treatments for dementia, highlighting the need for strategies that help prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

Research Framework of the Study

The study was based on data from the ASPREE study and its ALSOP sub-study, involving 10,893 older Australian participants who were not diagnosed with dementia at the study’s outset. Regression models were used to determine the relationship between the level of engagement in musical activities and the risk of developing dementia.

Analyses revealed that consistent music listening was associated with a significant reduction in dementia risk, as well as improvements in global cognition and memory over time. However, there was no correlation with changes in subjective cognitive well-being.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that music can be a promising and accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia in later life. With no current treatment available for dementia, the importance of adopting lifestyle-based strategies, such as listening to music or playing instruments, to enhance mental health in older adults is increasing.