A new study showed that regularly listening to music or playing musical instruments helps elderly people reduce the risk of dementia and slow down the decline of cognitive functions.
Australian scientists have studied data from over 10,000 healthy individuals aged 70 and older over a decade, according to the Washington Post. Those who listened to music almost daily reduced the likelihood of developing dementia by 39 percent compared to less active listeners. At the same time, the study did not specify which genre of music was preferred.
The ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Elder Persons project, in which the study was conducted, observed the health status of the participants and the influence of various lifestyle factors on the development of diseases. "Music was one of the topics we were interested in," said research leader Joan Ryan, a specialist in neuropsychiatry and dementia.
Experts annually checked the cognitive functions of participants and found that active music listeners showed high results in memory and global cognitive tests. At the same time, musicians who regularly play instruments also benefited - reducing the risk of dementia in them was about 35 percent.
Experts emphasize that learning to play a musical instrument is not necessary to improve brain health. Even simply listening to favorite music can stimulate cognitive functions, improve mood, and activate various areas of the brain.
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