Music may lower dementia risk in older adults
Older adults who frequently engage with music may have up to a 39 per cent lower risk of developing dementia, according to new research.
Regularly playing an instrument was linked to a 35 per cent reduced risk, while those who both listened to and played music showed a 33 per cent lower risk.
The findings suggest that music-related activities could provide an accessible way to support cognitive health in later life.
The study used data from 10,893 community-dwelling Australians aged 70 and over who were cognitively healthy at the start.
Participants were followed for a median of 4.7 years as part of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study and its sub-study.
About three years into the study, participants completed questionnaires about their social activities, including how often they listened to or played music, with responses ranging from “never” to “always”.
Researchers then tracked participants’ cognitive health through annual assessments, with dementia diagnoses made by an expert panel using rigorous criteria.
Those who reported “always” listening to music had a 39 per cent reduced dementia risk compared with those who listened never, rarely or sometimes.
This group also had a 17 per cent lower risk of developing cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) — a less severe form of cognitive decline that does not meet dementia criteria.
Participants who played an instrument “often” or “always” had a 35 per cent lower dementia risk compared with those who played rarely or never, though playing an instrument was not significantly associated with reduced CIND risk.
When researchers looked at individuals who engaged in both activities, they found a combined effect.
Participants who frequently listened to and played music had a 33 per cent lower dementia risk and a 22 per cent lower CIND risk.
Consistently listening to music was also associated with better scores in global cognition — a measure of overall thinking ability — and in memory performance.
Playing an instrument did not show a significant link with improved scores. Neither activity appeared to affect participants’ self-reported quality of life or mental wellbeing.
The study also examined whether education level influenced these associations.
The link between music listening and reduced dementia risk was strongest among those with 16 or more years of education, who showed a 63 per cent lower risk. For those with 12 to 15 years of education, no significant association was found.
As an observational study, the researchers stressed that these results show correlation rather than causation.
It is possible that individuals with healthier brains are more likely to engage with music — a concept known as reverse causation.
Participants were generally healthier than the wider older adult population, which may limit how broadly the findings apply.
The data on music engagement was self-reported, and did not include information on music type, session length, or whether radio listening involved mainly music or talk content.
Future research could examine longer-term outcomes and determine which specific aspects of music engagement offer the most benefit.
Studies involving more diverse populations and randomised controlled trials would help establish whether encouraging musical activities can directly improve cognitive function or delay dementia onset.
