Summary: A large Monash University study of more than 10,800 people aged 70 and over found that regular engagement with music is linked to a substantially lower risk of dementia. Participants who consistently listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia and showed better memory performance. Those who played a musical instrument had a 35% lower dementia risk. Combining listening and playing offered additional benefits for cognitive health.
The findings suggest that music-based activities may be an accessible, enjoyable lifestyle approach to support brain health and reduce cognitive decline in later life.
Key Facts
- Dementia risk reduction: Consistent music listening was associated with a 39% lower risk of dementia; playing an instrument was associated with a 35% lower risk.
- Memory and cognition: Music engagement correlated with higher overall cognitive scores and stronger episodic memory performance.
- Practical intervention: Listening to or playing music may be an effective, low-cost lifestyle strategy to help preserve cognitive function in older adults.
Source: Monash University
Overview
A Monash-led research team analysed data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial and its ALSOP sub-study to examine whether music-related leisure activities are linked to lower dementia risk and better cognitive wellbeing. The study included 10,893 community-dwelling Australian adults aged 70 and older who were free of diagnosed dementia at the start of the study.
Led by honours student Emma Jaffa with senior author Professor Joanne Ryan, the study evaluated three types of music engagement: listening to music, playing an instrument, and a combination of both. Researchers used Cox proportional hazards models to assess dementia risk from the third year of follow-up onward, and linear mixed models to measure associations with cognitive wellbeing, adjusting for age, sex and education level.
Key findings included:
- Always listening to music (compared with never/rarely/sometimes) was associated with a 39% lower risk of developing dementia and a 17% lower risk of cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND). It was also linked to higher global cognition and better episodic memory over time.
- Frequently playing a musical instrument (often/always) was associated with a 35% lower dementia risk.
- Participants who both listened to and played music showed a 33% reduced dementia risk and a 22% reduced risk of CIND.
The protective effects were generally stronger among people with higher education (more than 16 years of schooling). The study did not find that music activities were linked to changes in participants’ subjective reports of cognitive wellbeing.
While the results are compelling, the researchers note that observational data cannot prove causation. Still, the relationships observed between music engagement and reduced dementia risk argue that music may be a practical lifestyle intervention worth promoting for older adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does listening to music reduce dementia risk in older adults?
A: In this study, people over 70 who consistently listened to music had a 39% lower chance of developing dementia compared with those who rarely or never listened.
Q: Are the benefits similar for playing an instrument?
A: Yes. Regularly playing an instrument was associated with a 35% reduction in dementia risk and with improved memory performance.
Q: Why might music help protect the brain?
A: Music engages multiple brain systems involved in memory, attention, emotion and sensory processing. Regular stimulation of these networks may strengthen cognitive reserve and support memory function as people age.
About this research
Author: Tania Ewing
Source: Monash University
Contact: Tania Ewing – Monash University
Image credit: Neuroscience News
Original research: “What Is the Association Between Music-Related Leisure Activities and Dementia Risk? A Cohort Study” by Emma Jaffa et al., published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The article is open access.
Abstract — Study Aims
This cohort study aimed to determine whether music-related leisure activities are associated with reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), and with better cognitive wellbeing in initially cognitively healthy older adults. Researchers also investigated whether education level modified these associations.
Methods
Secondary data from the ASPREE trial and the ALSOP sub-study were analysed. The sample included 10,893 Australian adults aged 70 and older without dementia at baseline. Researchers classified participants by their level of music engagement (listening, playing, or both) and used Cox regression to estimate dementia risk from year three onward, while linear mixed models evaluated cognitive trajectories. Models adjusted for age, gender and education.
Results
Always listening to music was associated with a 39% lower dementia risk and a 17% lower CIND risk. Playing an instrument often/always was associated with a 35% lower dementia risk. Combined listening and playing correlated with a 33% lower dementia risk and a 22% lower CIND risk. Listening to music predicted improvements in global cognition and episodic memory over time; associations were generally stronger among participants with higher educational attainment.
Conclusion
These findings support the idea that music-based leisure activities could be a promising, widely accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive impairment and delay the onset of dementia in older adults. Further research, including intervention studies, is needed to clarify causality and to define optimal types and doses of musical engagement for brain health.