Recent Research Found That Playing An Instrument Or Singing Throughout Your Life Contributes To Improved Memory And Executive Function In Old Age
Engaging in music throughout your life– whether that be by playing an instrument or joining a choir– may contribute to better brain health in your later years, according to recent research.
The study, led by scientists at the University of Exeter, underscored the advantages of musical activities like playing the piano, which can boost memory and the capacity for complex tasks.
Moreover, being a part of a choir not only provides cognitive benefits but also enhances social well-being.
So, the researchers are advocating for music education as a public health strategy, beneficial for both the young and elderly.
Utilizing data from the PROTECT study online, which included over 1,000 adults aged 40 and up, the scientists investigated how musical activities affect brain health. The PROTECT study, having more than 25,000 participants, has been in progress for over 10 years.
The study examined the connection between the participants’ history with music, their lifelong music exposure, and their performance in cognitive tests.
The results suggest that playing a musical instrument, particularly the piano, is associated with improved memory and executive function abilities.
These abilities encompass skills such as planning, setting goals, exercising self-control, and maintaining concentration amidst distractions.
The research team also observed that persisting with musical practice into older age can yield additional benefits for the brain.
olly – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Moreover, the study pointed out that singing, possibly enhanced by the communal aspects of choir involvement, is linked to better brain health.
“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,” said Professor Anne Corbett, an expert in dementia research at the University of Exeter.
“Although more research is needed to investigate this relationship, our findings indicate that promoting musical education would be a valuable part of public health initiatives to promote a protective lifestyle for brain health, as would encouraging older adults to return to music in later life.”
One 78-year-old accordionist from Cornwall named Stuart Douglas is a firm advocate for the mental benefits of playing music after observing its positive effects on the mental acuity of himself and his bandmates.
Stuart, who plays in the Cober Valley Accordion Band and participates in the Cornish Division of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, regularly performs at Memory Cafés. These cafés are designed to assist people with dementia and their caregivers.
He first picked up the accordion as a young man and then maintained his musical passion throughout his career in law enforcement.
“These days, I still play regularly, and playing in the band also keeps my calendar full, as we often perform in public. We regularly play at memory cafes, so we have seen the effect that our music has on people with memory loss, and as older musicians ourselves, we have no doubt that continuing with music into older age has played an important role in keeping our brains healthy,” Stuart explained.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, visit the link here.
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