Playing a musical instrument or singing could be a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, a new study indicates, finding that practicing music keeps the brain sharp, especially later in life.
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,” professor Clive Ballard said on the Protect-UK website. Mr. Ballard is the executive dean and pro-vice chancellor of the University of Exeter Medical School.
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 at least a college degree. 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 tests to assess their working memory and other aspects of cognitive function.
Eighty-nine percent had learned to play an instrument at some point, but only 44 percent continued to play at the time of the study. Of those still playing, 37 percent reported practicing for between two and three hours a week. Seventy-one percent had participated in a choir, and 15 percent had undergone professional voice training. Eighty-three percent had learned to read musical notation.
The research team found that people 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. People who played woodwind instruments performed significantly better with executive function tasks. People who reported that they sang also had higher executive function scores.
Of note is that people who played multiple instruments performed no better than people who played just one. Listening to music 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.”
“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.
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