Older adults who frequently engage with music may face a substantially lower risk of dementia, an Australian-led study of more than 10,800 people has found. People over 70 who reported “always” listening to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia than those who never, rarely, or sometimes listened, according to a statement from Monash University and the peer-reviewed paper in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
The researchers said that people who played musical instrument were 35% less likely to have dementia. People who listened to and played music often were 33% less likely to have dementia and 22% less likely to have cognitive problems. People who listened to music often also did better on tests of overall cognition and episodic memory.
The analysis drew on data from the ASPREE cohort, which tracks health outcomes in older adults. Lead author Emma Jaffa said music activities could be an “accessible strategy” to help maintain cognitive health, while noting the study cannot prove causation.
Professor Joanne Ryan, the senior author, said that the results are consistent with prior evidence that lifestyle choices might alter how quickly the brain matures when there is no cure for dementia.
Researchers said that more studies are needed to find out if structured music engagement programs can help slow down or prevent cognitive decline. Monash University claimed that the results support integrating music to other healthy aging strategies.
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