If you want to keep your mind sharp as you age, picking up a musical instrument might be the key. A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that playing an instrument benefits brain health in older adults. Researchers examined 1,107 people in the U.K. over age 40, with an average age of 67.82. Participants self-reported their musical experience via a questionnaire and completed a cognitive assessment measuring working memory and executive function. The study compared four aspects of musicality—listening to music, playing an instrument, singing, and self-reported ability—against those without a musical background.
Expert Insights on the Study
Dr. Gary Small, a memory and brain aging expert at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, noted that this large-scale longitudinal study supports previous research indicating musical training supports cognitive health by improving memory and lowering the risk of age-related cognitive decline. However, 83% of participants were women, so the results may not fully represent the general population. Dr. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, a behavioral neurologist at Yale Medicine, pointed out that self-reported data can lead to errors, such as misremembering musical background.
How Music Affects the Brain
Playing music engages executive function, which involves multitasking, organizing, sequencing, and prioritizing. Dr. Golnaz Yadollahikhales, a neurologist at Cedars-Sinai, explained that music keeps you cognitively active, challenging your brain. This builds cognitive reserve, which can protect against brain atrophy linked to dementia and aphasia. Yadollahikhales observed that her musician patients often show better cognitive function than expected based on brain imaging.
What This Means for You
Consider learning an instrument. The study found that keyboard-based instruments like piano or organ offered the biggest benefits for memory and executive function, followed by brass and woodwind instruments. Singing also helped with complex task completion, possibly due to social connections formed in choirs. Music often involves social interaction, which is a protective factor for brain health.
Building Cognitive Reserve
It's never too late to start. Dr. Yadollahikhales recommends building cognitive reserve early through music, puzzles, reading, and physical activity. Even in your 70s, learning music can activate neurogenesis—the formation of new brain connections. While genetics play a role in dementia risk, a strong cognitive reserve can slow disease progression. So pick up that guitar or piano—your brain will thank you.
