It’s likely that most of us have a favorite song or musical artist from our younger days. But what about today? Are you still listening to your favorite songs from days gone by? Have you discovered new artists you enjoy? Have you become a Taylor Swift devotee or are you passionate about some current musician? A recent survey from the National Poll on Healthy Aging at the University of Michigan seems to confirm what you may already suspect: that a majority of us are still music lovers and regularly listen to music. According to this new survey, more than ½ of older adults (56%) listen to music daily and 29% of those 50-80 listen to music at least a few times per week. Almost everyone (98%) surveyed said they get some health-related benefit from listening to music, such as stress relief or relaxation. Other benefits derived from listening to music included feeling joyful (73%) and sparking memories from life events (61%). Twenty percent said they sing every day and 17% said they have played a musical instrument at least a few times during the past year. It therefore becomes obvious that music plays a very important role in the lives of many older adults. For more on this study, turn up the volume and click here.

That’s good news because we have mounting evidence of the important role that music plays in supporting and preserving brain health. According to a new study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, those who play a musical instrument, especially the piano, appear to have better memory as they age and are better able to solve complex tasks. Those who play piano throughout their adulthood are likely to have the greatest brain benefit. (To read the story of one cognitively sharp 99-year-old who has had piano playing as a central part of her life since infancy, read here) These assessments of brain health and musicality are part of a larger study of aging and brain functioning and seem to suggest that being musical may be a way to bolster brain resilience or cognitive reserve. This just adds to our existing evidence that a link exists between musical activity and sustained brain performance in our later years. It should be noted that most of the study participants had not played musical instruments their whole lives but rather for a limited number of years. 

There is even reason to think about picking up an instrument now, regardless of your age or how long it’s been since you previously played one, as a way to benefit your brain. According to a recent article from AARP, there is a growing body of research that links learning an instrument later in life to improved attention, mental health, and thinking skills. The article cites several studies from the past few years that link playing a musical instrument (especially the piano) with improved memory, along with reduced risk of dementia. As one expert was quoted, “I know nothing that uses your brain more than playing music.” Taking up an instrument requires the use of the brain in several ways, including reading, listening, memory, movement, and even emotion. There’s evidence that participating in music can help create new neurons in the brain, regardless of your age. And speaking of emotion and music, another new study published in Frontiers found that the emotional response you can have to music can actually reduce your perception of pain akin to taking an over-the-counter pain medication. While the exact reasons for this are not entirely understood, it does seem that listening to a meaningful song, one that makes you feel happy, sad, or powerful, can dull your perception of pain. For more on this study, start up your Spotify playlist and read here.