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 in 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.
“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.
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 UK research initiative focused on brain health and dementia that has been running since 2015.
Data for this particular study was collected between March 2019 and March 2022.
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Participants completed a questionnaire reporting their experiences with playing musical instruments, singing, reading 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.
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.
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.
“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 was associated with improved executive function. 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.
Based on these findings, researchers recommend promoting music education and activities from an early age to protect brain health.
“We think this can be incorporated into general lifestyle advice such as eating healthy and staying active, with the aim of keeping the brain sharp later in life. “We are,” Corbett said.
“Our findings show that learning and engaging with music, just like learning a new language, can improve brain resilience.”
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 definitely doesn’t hurt and people benefit from the fun and social interaction.” Examining the effects on the brain could be an interesting avenue for future research.”
Dr. Brandon Crawford, a functional neurologist at Austin’s NeuroSolutions Center 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. did.
“Playing an instrument or singing engages and enhances a variety of cognitive processes, including memory, attention, and executive function,” he told Fox News Digital.
“They enhance neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, and promote an environment conducive to learning and growth,” Crawford continued. “Music 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.
“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 with musical activities.
“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.
While all musical activities have benefits, Crawford noted that some instruments may provide more significant cognitive stimulation due to the complexity of the skills required.
“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.
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“The key is consistent engagement and enjoyment, which is important for staying active and reaping the neurological benefits,” he said.
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 can be part of this lifestyle advice, along with other factors such as exercise, healthy eating, not smoking, and not drinking too much alcohol.”
