Musical Instruments Improves Brain Function in Older People

According to a recent study conducted by experts at the University of Exeter, listening to music throughout your life is linked to greater brain function in old age.

Scientists working on PROTECT, an online study open to persons aged 40 and over, examined data from over a thousand participants over the age of 40 to determine the impact of playing a musical instrument—or singing in a choir—on cognitive health. Over 25,000 people have registered for the PROTECT study, which has been continuing for ten years.

The team examined participants’ musical experience and lifetime exposure to music, as well as cognitive testing results, to see if musicality helps to keep the brain sharp in later age.

The article, “The relationship between playing musical instruments and cognitive trajectories: Analysis from a UK aging cohort,” was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

The findings indicate that playing a musical instrument, particularly the piano, is associated with increased memory and the ability to solve difficult problems—known as executive function. Continuing to play into older age brings even more benefits. The study also found that singing was connected to improved brain health, albeit this could be due to the social aspects of being in a choir or group.

Anne Corbett, Professor of Dementia Research, University of Exeter said, “A number of studies have looked at the effect of music on 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.”

“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. There is considerable evidence for the benefit of music group activities for individuals with dementia, and this approach could be extended as part of a healthy aging package for older adults to enable them to proactively reduce their risk and to promote brain health.”

Stuart Douglas, a 78-year-old accordion musician from Cornwall, has been playing the instrument his entire life and now performs with the Cober Valley Accordion Band and the Cornish Division of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

He added, “I learnt to play the accordion as a boy living in a mining village in Fife and carried on throughout my career in the police force and beyond. 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 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.”

The PROTECT study is totally online and welcomes new participants aged 40 and up.

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