2024 study finds playing instruments improves memory and lowers cognitive decline risk
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · May 3
2024 study finds playing instruments improves memory and lowers cognitive decline risk
14 articles · Updated · HuffPost · May 3
Researchers assessed 1,107 UK adults aged over 40, average 67.82, using questionnaires and cognitive tests of working memory and executive function.
The study found the strongest benefits for keyboard instruments, followed by brass and woodwind, while singing was also linked to better complex task performance in later life.
Experts said music may build cognitive reserve through mental challenge and social interaction, though the sample was 83% women and partly relied on self-reported musical history.
Is playing piano the ultimate brain workout, or can video games offer the same cognitive shield against aging?
With new drugs now fighting dementia, is learning an instrument still a relevant strategy or a quaint hobby?
If your genes predispose you to Alzheimer's, can learning piano truly change your brain's destiny?
How Music Listening and Playing Cut Dementia Risk by Over a Third in Older Adults
Overview
A 2025 Monash University study revealed that consistent music engagement—whether listening or playing instruments—significantly lowers dementia risk and cognitive impairment in older adults. Music activates multiple brain networks involved in auditory processing, memory, motor skills, and emotion, creating a cross-domain neural workout that builds cognitive resilience and brain reserve. This resilience, combined with music's stress-reducing effects and social engagement benefits, contributes to its protective power against cognitive decline. Activities like playing piano or singing in choirs enhance memory and executive function, while regular listening offers accessible, strong protection. Despite proven benefits, barriers like limited clinical adoption and resource constraints remain, highlighting the need for further research and wider implementation.