There’s nothing like a nostalgic song that transports you to a special time and place. Now, a new study shows that music may help preserve those memories for a lifetime.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that people who “engage with music” throughout their lives tend to have better memory and better overall brain health as they age, according to a press release. .
The findings were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
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“The main message here is that different ways of engaging with music throughout the lifespan can lead to different benefits,” Professor Anne Corbett, lead researcher in dementia research at the University of Exeter, told FOX News Digital. told.
“This has implications for public health, the inclusion of music in general education, and the importance of continuing music throughout the lifespan or revisiting it in midlife and late life,” she continued.
New research has shown that music may help protect memory and cognitive function throughout life. (St. Petersburg)
Scientists analyzed data from more than 1,107 people aged 40 and older who had not been diagnosed with dementia. They were all participants in the PROTECT study, a long-running research initiative in the UK. Brain health and dementia It has been running since 2015.
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Data for this particular study was collected between March 2019 and March 2022. Participants completed a questionnaire reporting their experiences such as playing musical instruments, singing, reading sheet music, and listening to music.
They also assessed their level of competency.
Participants, 83% female and with an average age of 67, also took an online cognitive test to measure memory and executive function.
The study also found that people who sing regularly had better brain health, but the researchers noted that this could also be a result of social factors. (St. Petersburg)
Participants who played a musical instrument were found to have higher cognitive abilities and improved memory than those who did not play an instrument.
Piano has been shown to have the greatest benefits for cognitive function. The longer you play, the greater the benefits.
It has also been shown that people who sing regularly have better singing skills. brain healththe study found, but the researchers noted that it could also be the result of social factors.
“Our findings show that learning and engaging with music, just like learning a new language, can improve brain resilience.”
“The size of our study and the information available allowed us to disaggregate the results and examine associations from different types of musicality,” Corbett said. “Singing is associated with improved executive function, and this may be due to the social aspect of being in a choir.”
She noted that people who learn more through written music seem to have better numerical memorization skills, but playing the keyboard is associated with an overall advantage.
“Listening to music alone didn’t help; formal learning was the key,” Corbett added.
Participants who played a musical instrument were found to have higher cognitive abilities and improved memory than those who did not play an instrument. (St. Petersburg)
Based on these findings, researchers recommend promoting music education and activity from an early age as a means to protect brain health.
“We think this can be incorporated into general lifestyle advice such as: healthy eating habits And being active helps keep your mind sharp later in life,” Corbett said.
“Our findings show that learning and engaging with music, just like learning a new language, can improve brain resilience.”
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The researchers shared that this study had some limitations.
“In our study, the number of people who played a particular instrument was very small, so this may have explained some of the effects we found,” Corbett said.
“We also didn’t consider whether picking up an instrument for the first time later in life might be beneficial, but it certainly doesn’t hurt and people can benefit from the fun and social interaction.” We haven’t looked at the effects on the brain.” This could be an interesting avenue for future research. ”
Piano has been shown to have the greatest benefits for cognitive function. The longer you play, the greater the benefits. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Brandon Crawford, a functional neurologist at the NeuroSolutions Center in Austin, who was not involved in the study, confirmed that musical activities, such as playing an instrument or singing, have a “significant impact” on the brain.
“Playing an instrument or singing engages and enhances a variety of cognitive processes, including memory, attention, and executive function,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The key is consistent engagement and enjoyment, which is critical to staying active and reaping neurological benefits.”
“They enhance neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, and promote an environment conducive to learning and growth,” Crawford continued. “Music also stimulates emotional processing, improves mood, and has therapeutic effects.”
The doctor said that the benefits of musical activity are both preventive and rehabilitative.
“For people without cognitive impairment, these activities can help maintain or even improve cognitive function and act as a safeguard against cognitive decline,” he said.
“Instruments like the piano and violin require coordination of both hands, reading music, and expressing emotion, and they affect a wide range of areas of the brain,” the neurologist said. (St. Petersburg)
“meanwhile, [for] For those who are already experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline, musical activity can slow the progression of such symptoms and, in some cases, restore cognitive function thanks to the brain’s amazing ability to adapt and change. ”
Crawford says some of his own patients have experienced significant improvements in memory, mood, and cognitive function as a result of musical activities.
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“For example, when patients with early signs of dementia start playing the piano or singing regularly, it has been shown to improve their recall and reduce the progression of their symptoms.” he said.
between all Music activity Crawford noted that some devices may provide more significant cognitive stimulation due to the complexity of the skills required.
“Singing is associated with improved executive function, and this may be due to the social aspect of belonging to a choir,” said the lead researcher. (St. Petersburg)
“Instruments like the piano and violin require coordination of both hands, reading music, and emotional expression, and they affect wide areas of the brain,” he said.
The most important thing, Crawford said, is that the person enjoys the activity.
“The key is consistent engagement and enjoyment, which is important for staying active and reaping the neurological benefits,” he said.
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Corbett added: “We know that lifestyle factors are important in keeping our minds as sharp as possible later in life.”
“A lifelong commitment to music is a combination of exercise, healthy eating, quit smoking And don’t drink too much alcohol. ”
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