Playing an Instrument or Singing Promotes Brain Health Into Old Age
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Band geeks and choir kids now have a new reason to keep making music as they get on in years: It may help promote brain health as they age.
In a new study, researchers examined cognitive test results for about 1,000 adults who were 68 years older on average, most of whom currently or previously played a musical instrument or sang in a choir.
People who played instruments or sang in choirs — even if it was only for a few years decades ago — scored much better on tests of memory, reasoning, and executive function than the study participants without any prior musical experience, according to study results published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
“We believe that playing an instrument or taking part in singing activities challenges the brain and builds connections in the brain that help it work better and protect it from damage later on,” says senior study author Anne Corbett, PhD, a professor of dementia research at the University of Exeter in England.
Musical Training Has Similar Benefits to Language Learning
This is similar to learning a second language or taking part in other activities like daily crossword puzzles that constantly challenge the brain, Dr. Corbett says. And, while a lifelong pursuit of music works best for brain health — along with formal lessons — it can still have cognitive benefits if people only sing or play for a few years when they’re young, she adds.
One instrument in particular — piano — appeared to have the most benefits, the study found.
The benefits of singing appeared similar in some respects to playing an instrument. However, the researchers concluded that some of these benefits might be due to the social benefits of being part of a choir more than just to singing itself.
Because the study focused on people who already had some experience with playing instruments or singing, it’s not clear from the results whether pursuing music for the first time in middle or old age would have cognitive benefits.
“People may get benefit from challenging their brain by starting to learn an instrument. We know that taking part in brain training is beneficial, so this would be similar,” Corbett says. “However, we don’t have evidence to support that.”
The Study Had Some Limitations
One limitation of the study is that 89 percent of the participants had current or previous experience playing an instrument or singing. This may mean there weren’t enough nonmusical participants to detect meaningful differences in some types of cognitive function.
The study also wasn’t able to assess one important aspect of the connection between music and cognitive function: the effects of listening to it. But there’s no dangerous side effects or downsides to having music be a part of your life in whatever way works for you, says Sebastian Walsh, a public health researcher at the University of Cambridge in England, who wasn’t involved in the new study.
“Engaging with music, and music playing, is generally an enjoyable and often social activity and it has many benefits for well-being,” Walsh says. “It looks as if it can also have a small boosting effect on your brain function.”
What’s more, it’s safe for anyone to try and possible to do without spending a lot of money, Walsh adds. “So rather than trying to precisely quantify benefits for any given individual, we could simply ask: Why not get involved if it’s fun and it might help?”
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