Listening to music after age 70 can reduce the risk of dementia by almost 40%

Summary: Older adults who listen to or play music regularly can significantly reduce their risk of dementia, according to a study of more than 10,800 people age 70 and older. Those who always listened to music showed a 39% lower risk of developing dementia and better memory performance, while those who played instruments had a 35% lower risk.

The combination of both activities offered an even greater protective effect against cognitive decline. Researchers suggest that engaging with music could be an accessible and enjoyable strategy to help maintain brain health in old age.

Key facts

Decreased risk of dementia: Listening to music always reduced the risk of dementia by 39%; playing instruments reduced the risk by 35%. Better memory: Musical participation was related to higher overall cognitive and episodic memory scores. Impact on lifestyle: Findings support music as a simple lifestyle-based intervention for brain health in aging.

Source: Monash University

Listening to music over the age of 70 has been linked to a 39 per cent reduction in the risk of dementia, according to a Monash University-led study involving more than 10,800 older people.

The study, led by Monash Honors student Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan, looked at the benefits of listening to or playing music in people over 70 and found that always listening to music, compared to never/rarely/sometimes listening to music, was associated with a 39 per cent lower risk of dementia. Playing an instrument was associated with a 35 percent reduction in dementia risk.

This study used data from the ASPirin in Reduction Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study and the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) substudy and was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

The study found that listening to music was always associated with the greatest reduction in dementia risk, with a 39 percent lower incidence of dementia and a 17 percent lower incidence of cognitive impairment, as well as higher scores in general cognition and episodic memory (used when remembering everyday events). While listening to and playing music regularly was associated with a 33 percent lower risk of dementia and a 22 percent lower risk of cognitive decline.

According to Jaffa, the study’s findings “suggest that musical activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, although causality cannot be established,” he said.

Population aging has become a global public health issue due to advances in medicine and technology that extend human life expectancy, and this longer life expectancy has also meant an increase in the prevalence of age-related diseases, including cognitive decline and dementia.

As there is currently no cure available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay the onset of the disease is critical,” said lead author Professor Ryan.

“Evidence suggests that brain aging is not based solely on age and genetics, but can be influenced by one’s own environmental and lifestyle choices. Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening to and/or playing music, can promote cognitive health.”

Key questions answered:

About this research news on aging, music and dementia

Author: Tania Ewing
Source: Monash University
Contact: Tania Ewing – Monash University
Image: Image is credited to Neuroscience News.

Original research: Open access.
“What is the association between music-related leisure activities and the risk of dementia? A cohort study,” by Emma Jaffa et al. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Abstract

What is the association between music-related leisure activities and dementia risk? A cohort study

Goals

To determine whether participation in music-related leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and non-dementia cognitive impairment (CIND), as well as improved cognitive well-being in initially cognitively healthy older adults. In this case, cognitive well-being includes maintaining good cognitive function and good quality of life. Possible effect modification by education was also investigated.

Methods

This study used secondary data from the ASPirin in Reduction Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study and the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) substudy. We included 10,893 community-dwelling Australian adults aged 70 years or older, without a diagnosis of dementia at the time of study recruitment.

Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the association between level of musical participation (listening to music, playing an instrument, and a combination of both) and risk of dementia from the third year onwards. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the association with cognitive well-being. Analyzes adjusted for age, sex, and education level completed.

Results

Listening to music always, compared with never/rarely/sometimes, was associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of dementia (95% CI = 0.45, 0.82, p = 0.001) and a 17% reduction in the risk of CIND (95% CI = 0.74, 0.92, p = 0.001). Playing an instrument (often/always) was associated with a 35% reduction in dementia risk only (95% CI = 0.42, 0.99, p = 0.047). Participants who listened to and played music had a 33% decrease in the risk of dementia (95% CI = 0.51, 0.89, p = 0.006) and a 22% decrease in the risk of CIND (95% CI = 0.65, 0.92, p = 0.004).

Listening to music was always associated with better cognition and global memory over time (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively), but not in the other cognitive domains. Participation in music-related activities was not associated with changes in subjective cognitive well-being. Overall, the findings were stronger in people with more than 16 years of education.

Conclusion

These results highlight music as a potentially promising and accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia in old age.