Engaging With Music May Protect Memory
Listening to and playing music may be more than just enjoyable pastimes. A recent investigation from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, involving over 10,800 adults ages 70 and older, found that regularly engaging with music is linked to a substantially lower risk of dementia. Older adults who consistently listened to music had a 39 percent reduced risk of developing dementia and a 17 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment. Playing a musical instrument also appeared beneficial, corresponding to a 35 percent reduction in dementia risk. Those who both listened to and played music showed a 33 percent lower dementia risk and a 22 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment.
The findings, drawn from the large ASPREE and ALSOP aging studies, indicate that frequent music engagement is associated with better cognitive scores and stronger episodic memory. With dementia rates rising as populations age, the researchers stress the importance of lifestyle strategies — such as listening to or playing music — to help maintain cognitive function and potentially delay the onset of cognitive decline.
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