People who played the keyboard or brass instruments had better working memory, and those who played woodwind instruments had better executive function.
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| (Danita Delimont/Shutterstock) |
Playing a musical instrument or singing could be as vital for one’s health as exercising, a new study indicates—except instead of keeping your cardiovascular system and muscles in shape, practicing music keeps the brain sharp, especially later in life.
The new report, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, suggests that music should be part of a regular lifestyle, especially for individuals at higher risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
To determine the link between music and cognitive function, a research team from the United Kingdom analyzed data from people enrolled in a nationwide study called Protect-UK. The study is focused on understanding how healthy brains age and why people develop dementia.
“We know dementia risk can be reduced by one-third through improving lifestyle factors from midlife,” said professor Clive Ballard, executive dean and pro-vice chancellor of the University of Exeter Medical School, who helps run the program, on the Protect-UK website.
The research team examined data collected between March 2019 and March 2022 from 1,107 individuals aged 40 and older. Nearly all (83 percent) of the participants were female, and most were well-educated with a college degree or higher. The average age was about 68 years.
Participants were asked how often they played musical instruments, sang, read music, and listened to music. Throughout the three years of study, the participants took three cognitive function tests to assess their working memory, executive span, self-ordered search, and paired associate learning.
Eighty-nine percent had learned to play an instrument in their life, but only 44 percent continued to play at the time of the study. Of those still playing, 37 percent reported practicing between two and three hours a week. Seventy-one percent had participated in a choir, while 15 percent had undergone professional voice training. Eighty-three percent had learned to read musical notation.
The research team found that individuals who played music performed “significantly better in working memory and executive function tasks.” In particular, people who said they played the keyboard or brass instruments had high working memory scores. Individuals who played woodwind instruments performed significantly better with executive function tasks. Individuals who reported singing also had higher executive function scores.
Of curious note: People who played multiple instruments performed no better than individuals who played just one. Listening to music—versus performing it—did not affect cognitive performance.
“This study reports on the association of musicality and cognition in a large cohort of older adults, confirming clear, significant associations between key musical factors and cognitive performance,” the researchers wrote. “The findings confirm those reported in previous studies, adding strength to the evidence base relating to musical engagement and cognitive health, and highlighting the potential value of education and engagement in musical activities throughout life as a means of harnessing cognitive reserve as part of a protective lifestyle for brain health.”
The research team suggested that public health interventions for aging and dementia should encourage incorporating musical instruments and singing into one’s daily or weekly life. Furthermore, they believe the findings warrant policy for promoting music education early in life. Research shows that the earlier someone starts playing an instrument, the easier it is to advance.
That said, it’s also never too late to start. With dementia affecting about one-third of all people aged 85 and older, performing music could be a simple and cost-effective measure for preventing a common but detrimental part of aging.
“In particular, adults may be encouraged to take part in community music or singing groups or to re-engage with an instrument they have played in former years,” the study authors wrote.
Important Notice: This article was also published at www.theepochtimes.com by Amie Dahnke where all credits are due.
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