Study finds listening to music reduces dementia risk for elderly

By Stephen Beech

Older people who listen to music often slash their risk of dementia by more than a third, according to a new study.

Researchers found that listening to or playing music at the age of 70 and older is linked to a reduction of up to 39% in the chances of developing the debilitating condition.

Increases in life expectancy due to advances in medicine and technology have seen a rise in the prevalence of age‐related diseases, including dementia and cognitive decline.

The new study, involving more than 10,800 older people, looked at the benefits of listening to music or playing music.

The findings showed that always listening to music - compared with never, rarely or sometimes doing so - was associated with a 39% decreased risk of dementia.

Playing an instrument was associated with a 35% reduction in dementia risk, according the the study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

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Always listening to music was also associated with a 17% cent lower incidence of cognitive impairment, as well as higher scores in overall cognition and "episodic memory" - used when recalling everyday events.

Regularly engaging in both listening to and playing music was associated with a 33% decreased risk of dementia and 22% decreased risk of cognitive impairment.

Study co-author Emma Jaffa, of Monash University in Australia, says the study “suggests music activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, though causation cannot be established."

Study senior author Professor Joanne Ryan, also of Monash University, said: "With no cure currently available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay onset of the disease is critical.

“Evidence suggests that brain ageing is not just based on age and genetics but can be influenced by one's own environmental and lifestyle choices."

She added: "Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music can promote cognitive health.”