Listening and Playing: The Power of Music in Preserving Memory and Cognition

The findings suggest that listening to and playing music may be a simple, enjoyable, and accessible strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Listening to music consistently reduced the risk of dementia by 39% and was associated with improved memory and overall cognition. Playing an instrument reduced the risk of dementia by 35%, but without a significant effect on other cognitive domains. Combining listening to and playing music reduced the risk of dementia by 33% and the risk of cognitive impairment without dementia by 22%.

Population aging has increased concern about cognitive decline and dementia, conditions that affect the autonomy and quality of life of millions of older adults worldwide. While genetic and biological factors play an important role, there is growing evidence that cognitively enriched lifestyles, such as extended education, reading, artistic activities, and social interaction, can slow cognitive decline and promote brain resilience.

In this context, music emerges as one of the most engaging and complex activities for the human brain, integrating memory, emotion, hearing, and motor skills. But can listening to or playing music really protect the brain against dementia?

The present study aimed to evaluate whether involvement in leisure-time musical activities, specifically listening to music, playing an instrument, or a combination of both, is associated with a lower risk of dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CCSD) in cognitively healthy older adults.

Furthermore, the study investigated whether such activities were related to the maintenance of cognitive well-being, understood as the preservation of cognitive function and quality of life over time. An additional point explored was the possible modifying effect of schooling on these associations.

Secondary data from two large Australian cohort studies were used: the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) and the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP). The sample included 10,893 adults aged 70 years or older, all community residents and without a diagnosis of dementia at the start of the follow-up.

The level of involvement with music was assessed using three main categories:

- Listening to music (with varying frequency: never/rarely/sometimes/always);

- Playing a musical instrument (frequently or always);

- Combining both activities.

To estimate the association between these activities and the risk of dementia over time, the researchers applied Cox proportional hazards regression models, starting the analysis from the third year of follow-up.

In addition, to examine the relationship between musical engagement and cognitive well-being, linear mixed models were used, which allow for the analysis of cognitive variations over time as a function of multiple variables.

The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and education level to control for potential confounding factors. The focus was on identifying robust associations, independent of these sociodemographic determinants.

The results showed that listening to music frequently was strongly associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of dementia and a 17% reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment without dementia. On the other hand, playing a musical instrument regularly was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk of dementia, although without a significant impact on the risk of cognitive impairment without dementia.

Individuals who combined both practices, listening to and playing music, showed intermediate reductions: a 33% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of cognitive impairment without dementia.

In terms of cognitive performance, listening to music regularly was associated with better overall cognition and better memory over time, but there were no significant differences in other domains such as attention, language, or executive functions.

Musical engagement, however, did not show a significant relationship with subjective cognitive well-being, that is, with the personal perception of quality of life and mental satisfaction. Interestingly, the protective effects were more pronounced in individuals with higher education (≥ 16 years), while those with an intermediate level of education (12–15 years) showed inconsistent results.

The findings suggest that listening to and playing music can be a simple, enjoyable, and accessible strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Although the study is observational and does not allow for causality to be established, it reinforces the hypothesis that the cognitive and emotional engagement provided by music can strengthen cognitive reserve and protect the brain against neural aging.

These results broaden the understanding of music as a tool for promoting brain health, especially in older populations with high levels of education.

READ MORE:

What Is the Association Between Music-Related Leisure Activities and Dementia Risk? A Cohort Study

Emma Jaffa, Zimu Wu, Alice Owen, Aung Azw Zaw Phyo, Robyn L. Woods, Suzanne G. Orchard, Trevor T.-J. Chong, Raj C. Shah, Anne Murray, and Joanne Ryan

Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 40, Issue10, October 2025, e70163

https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70163

Abstract:

To determine whether engagement in music-related leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), as well as better cognitive wellbeing in initially cognitively healthy older adults. Here, cognitive wellbeing includes maintaining good cognitive function as well as quality of life. Potential effect modification by education was also investigated. This study used secondary data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study, and the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) sub-study. Included were 10,893 community-dwelling Australian adults who were 70 years and older, without dementia diagnosis at recruitment to the study. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to determine the association between level of music engagement (listening to music, playing an instrument, and a combination of both) and dementia risk from year 3 onwards. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the association with cognitive wellbeing. Analyses adjusted for age, gender and level of education completed. Always listening to music, compared with never/rarely/sometimes, was associated with a 39% decreased risk of dementia (95% CI = 0.45,0.82, p = 0.001), and a 17% decreased risk of CIND (95% CI = 0.74, 0.92, p = 0.001). Playing an instrument (often/always) was associated with a 35% decreased dementia risk only (95% CI = 0.42,0.99, p = 0.047). Participants who both listened to and played music had a 33% decreased dementia risk (95% CI = 0.51,0.89, p = 0.006) and a 22% decreased CIND risk (95% CI = 0.65,0.92, p = 0.004). Always listening to music was associated with better global cognition and memory over time (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively), but not the other cognitive domains. Engagement in music-related activities was not associated with changes in subjective cognitive wellbeing. In general, findings were stronger in individuals with over 16 years of education.These results highlight music as a potential promising, accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive impairment and delay the onset of dementia in later life.