STUDY FINDS THAT MUSIC CAN DECREASE CHANCE OF DEMENTIA BY 30%
How frequently do you like music? You may want to put your favourite tunes on repeat after reading this article. According to a recent study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, playing an instrument or listening to music can lower a person's risk of dementia by more than one-third.
The latest study, conducted by Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, Australia, examined over 10,800 persons over 70 who lived in Australia. Their goal was to find out if engaging with music, whether through playing an instrument, listening to it, or both, could enhance older persons' brain health and prevent dementia and memory issues. To quantify cognitive changes over time, the researchers used a Cox proportional hazards model, a sort of analysis, to track participants across a number of years. They began comparing dementia rates between participants with varying degrees of musical involvement in the third year of the trial.
Throughout the study, they also employed a different technique known as a linear mixed model to examine the relationship between music-related activities and general cognitive and memory health. Crucially, in order to ensure that the results were solely focused on the impacts of musical involvement, the researchers considered other variables that might affect the results, such as age, gender, and educational attainment.
According to the findings, those who "always" listened to music were 39% less likely to develop dementia than those who listened infrequently or never. Additionally, the researchers discovered that regular music listening was associated with a 17% decreased risk of Cognitive Impairment No Dementia (CIND), a condition in which a person has discernible memory, thinking, or decision-making issues that surpass normal ageing but do not yet fit the criteria for dementia.
You're also in luck if you compose your own music. According to the study, playing an instrument frequently was linked to a 35% lower incidence of dementia. Additionally, people who played and listened to music had a 22% lower risk of CIND and a 33% lower chance of dementia. It's interesting to note that those with higher education levels—especially those who had studied for more than 16 years—saw the benefits more clearly.
The researchers state, "There is evidence that brain ageing is not solely determined by age and genetics, but can also be influenced by one's own environmental and lifestyle choices." This demonstrates how lifestyle-based therapies may support mental well-being. Consequently, listening to music has become a viable strategy for preserving mental health.
Even though there is now no treatment for dementia, research like this has significantly increased our knowledge of how to stop or postpone the start of the illness. According to a different recent study, having a purpose can also keep our brains resilient.