If you’re worried about your memory fading as you get older, there is hope, as a new study has found that learning to play a musical instrument or joining a choir is linked to better memory and thinking skills as we age.
The study was conducted by researchers out of Exeter University who examined data from more than a thousand adults and looked at how much experience they had in participating in music.
Researchers were able to investigate brain health and how participants planned, focused, remembered, and juggled tasks, also known as the executive functions.
They found that those who played an instrument scored significantly higher in brain function and health compared to those who didn’t.
The research could be huge for older adults, as recent studies found that nearly 10% of adults over the age of 65 have dementia, and 32% have some degree of cognitive impairment.
Those numbers are also only expected to get worse in the coming years, with one study estimating that dementia cases could triple by 2050.
As for the potential deterrents, researchers from Exeter University specifically called out playing the piano as being associated with better brain health after 40.
Those who tried for hours in their youth but couldn’t master an instrument shouldn’t worry, as the study also found that singing was linked to better brain health. However, that could also be linked to the social factors of being part of a group, according to researchers.
Anne Corbett, professor of dementia research at the University of Exeter, shared that this isn’t the first study to look at the relationship between music and cognitive abilities.
“Overall, we think that being musical could be a way of harnessing the brain’s agility and resilience, known as cognitive reserve,” Corbett said. “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.”
Corbett went on to say that 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.”
Other studies have also looked at possible early deterrents for dementia. One published by JAMA found that living with a pet or others significantly helped reduce the decline in cognitive abilities.
That study highlighted that the key to helping stay sharp was long-term and meaningful relationships, whether that be with a person or a furry friend.