Music May Help Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults, A New Study Suggests

The Connection Between Music and Brain Health

As people live longer, more families worry about memory loss and dementia. Scientists are working hard to understand how lifestyle habits—like staying active, socializing, and learning new skills—may help protect the brain. One area that has gained attention is music. Many older adults enjoy listening to music, playing an instrument, or singing, but researchers have not been sure whether these activities can actually support long-term brain health.

A new study from Australia looked closely at thousands of older adults to explore whether engaging with music could help lower the risk of dementia or slow cognitive decline. The findings suggest that music may play a bigger role in protecting the brain than previously thought.

Why Music Might Matter for the Brain

Past research shows that music activates many areas of the brain at once. It can stimulate memory, attention, language, and emotional centers. Playing an instrument requires coordination, problem-solving, and practice—all of which challenge the brain. Even listening to music can help lower stress and improve mood, both of which may support healthy aging.

However, earlier studies were often small or included people who already had memory problems. This new research is different because it focused on healthy older adults and followed them for many years, giving scientists a better look at how music habits may relate to long-term brain health.

What Did the Research Discover?

This study used data from the large ASPREE and ALSOP studies, which followed healthy older adults in Australia for many years. The researchers looked at 10,893 adults aged 70 and older who did not have dementia when the study began.

How the study was conducted

• Participants answered questions about how often they:
  
  • Listened to music or the radio
    
  • Played a musical instrument or sang
    
• Answers were grouped into:
  
  • Never/rarely/sometimes
    
  • Often
    
  • Always (for music listening)
    
  • Often/always (for instrument playing)
    
• Researchers followed participants for up to 9 years.
  
• They tracked:
  
  • Who developed dementia
    
  • Who developed CIND (Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia)
    
  • How participants’ cognitive test scores changed over time
    

Key findings

The results were striking:

Listening to music

• People who always listened to music had:
  
  • 39% lower risk of dementia
    
  • 17% lower risk of CIND
    
  • Better scores for overall thinking ability and memory
    

Playing an instrument

• Those who often or always played an instrument had a:
  
  • 35% lower risk of dementia
    
• Playing an instrument did not clearly reduce the risk of CIND.
  

Doing both: listening + playing

• Participants who engaged in both activities had:
  
  • 33% lower risk of dementia
    
  • 22% lower risk of CIND
    

Other important details

• Benefits were strongest in people with more than 16 years of education.
  
• Music engagement did not improve self-reported quality of life.
  
• Even after considering factors like age, gender, health conditions, and education, the results stayed largely the same.
  

What the results mean

While the study cannot prove that music causes better brain health, the patterns strongly suggest that people who stay engaged with music may maintain healthier brains as they age. Music may be one of several lifestyle habits that work together to lower dementia risk.

How Can I Apply This Information?

This research shows that music may be a simple, enjoyable, and accessible tool to support healthy aging. Because the study looked at real-life habits, the findings suggest that older adults do not need to be professional musicians to benefit.

Practical ways to use the findings

• Listen to music daily. The strongest protection came from people who listened “most days.”
  
• Try learning an instrument. Even simple weekly practice may help challenge the brain.
  
• Join musical activities. Singing groups, drumming circles, or community choirs may offer social and cognitive benefits.
  
• Mix music with other healthy habits. Exercise, social time, and mentally challenging hobbies all support brain health.

This study is research, not a medical treatment. It shows an association—not a guaranteed prevention strategy. Many factors affect dementia risk, including genetics, health conditions, and environment. But music is a low-risk, enjoyable habit that may contribute to long-term brain wellness.

For caregivers, families, and older adults, adding more music to daily life may be an easy step toward keeping the brain active and engaged.

Source:

Jaffa E, Wu Z, Owen A, Phyo AAZ, Woods RL, Orchard SG, et al. What is the association between music-related leisure activities and dementia risk? A cohort study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025;40:e70163. Accessed by: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.70163