Engaging in music throughout life boosts brain health

The benefits of musical engagement on brain health in older adults have been unveiled

The University of Exeter conducted a study as part of the ongoing PROTECT project, which has attracted over 25,000 participants aged 40 and over in its decade-long duration.

The study highlights the positive correlation between playing musical instruments and singing in choirs with enhanced cognitive abilities later in life.

Benefits of music on brain health

The research team looked into data from more than a thousand adults aged 40 and above, analysing the impact of musical activities on brain health.

Participants’ musical experiences, lifetime exposure to music, and cognitive test results were analysed to unravel the potential benefits of musicality on cognitive function.

The findings reveal a connection between playing a musical instrument, particularly the piano, and improved memory retention and executive function, the ability to solve complex tasks.

Continued musical engagement

The study further indicates that the positive effects of musical engagement on brain health are heightened when individuals continue to play instruments into their later years.

Singing in choirs also exhibited a positive association with better brain health. However, researchers suggest that the social aspects of being part of a musical group may contribute to these benefits.

Professor Anne Corbett, an expert in dementia research at the University of Exeter, stated, “Our PROTECT study has given us a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between cognitive performance and music in a large cohort of older adults. Overall, we think that being musical could be a way of harnessing the brain’s agility and resilience, known as cognitive reserve.”

“Being musical could be a way of harnessing the brain’s agility and resilience”

“There is considerable evidence for the benefit of music group activities for individuals with dementia, and this approach could be extended as part of a healthy ageing package for older adults to enable them to proactively reduce their risk and to promote brain health.”

Promoting musical education

The study’s outcomes suggest that promoting musical education could be a valuable component of public health initiatives to promote a protective lifestyle for brain health.

Encouraging older adults to restore their musical interests later in life is also highlighted as a potential way to promote cognitive well-being.