Playing a musical instrument or singing may help maintain a healthy brain later in life, according to a study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, on Monday, the 29th of January, reports the BBC.
Researchers at the University of Exeter examined data on brain function in more than 1 100 people over the age of 40, with the average age of the group being 68, in a large study which examined how the brain ages and why people develop dementia.
The study looked at the effects of playing instruments, singing, reading and listening to music on the brain. The results showed that people who engaged in musical activities, especially playing instruments, benefited the most, most likely because of the “cognitive demands” associated with playing music.
Playing the piano or keyboard, and to a lesser extent brass and wind instruments, significantly improved cognitive abilities,
especially in aspects such as short- and long-term memory and problem-solving.
Singing also had benefits, possibly due to the social aspects of being in a choir or group, but listening alone did not help cognitive health.
The study’s lead author, Professor Anne Corbett, stressed that the study used highly sensitive brain tests to analyse certain aspects of brain function that are affected by exposure to music.
She said that the results reaffirmed the well-known beneficial effects of music, adding that people who continue to play instruments in old age gain additional benefits.
The study also found that people who regularly read music had improved numerical memory. Professor Corbett stressed that learning to read music is similar to learning a new language, which is a challenging exercise for the brain.
She also stressed that, although more research is needed,
promoting music education could be a “valuable” aspect of promoting public health.
However, she cautioned that playing a musical instrument alone cannot prevent dementia, pointing out that it is not that simple.
Stuart Douglas, 78, who has been playing the accordion since the age of eight, has stressed that playing music has helped to keep his brain “active” and claims that it has a positive impact on people with memory problems.
He believes that it is important to continue playing music in old age to maintain a healthy brain.
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