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Playing a Musical Instrument May Improve Cognition in Older Adults
Playing a musical instrument was significantly associated with better performance in working memory and executive function in older adults, according to recent study results published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
“Although more research is needed to investigate this relationship, our findings suggest that promoting the exposure to music during life can increase cognitive reserve and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older age,” noted first author Gaia Vetere, University of Exeter Medical School, UK, and co-authors. “In particular, adults may be encouraged to take part in community music or singing groups or to re-engage with an instrument they have played in former years.”
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Cognitive and musicality data was collected from the nested study MuSiCALExperience and Healthy Ageing (SCALE) within the online PROTECT-UK cohort study and ran between April 2022 and April 2023. Participants were aged 40 and above and had not been diagnosed with dementia. Demographic information was collected through online questionnaires, while musical expertise was assessed using an adapted Edinburgh Lifetime Musical Experience Questionnaire (ELMEQ), which assesses self-reported musical expertise.
Musicality was organized into 4 sections: playing a musical instrument, singing, reading music, and listening to music. Cognitive performance was measured using computerized tests, including working memory and executive function tasks, with data pooled and averaged for analysis. Linear regression analysis was used to find associations between factors, adjusting for covariates such as sex, age, education level, and test completion frequency.
A total of 1107 participants were included (mean age = 67.82 years), of which 83% were female. Data from the ELMEQ questionnaire showed:
• 89% of participants had experience playing a musical instrument, with 44% continuing to play at the time of the study,
• 44% had played in a band, ensemble, or orchestra,
• 71% had sung in a group (choir, band, ensemble, etc), and
• 83% had learned to read musical notation.
Associations between cognitive performance and music were found between all 4 studied categories. However, cognitive benefit was found to be strongest in participants that played musical instruments who performed better (effect sizes (ES) ≥ .2) in working memory and executive function tasks. Working memory was particularly strong in those who had played the keyboard or a brass instrument. A significant association was also found between singing and executive function, with an effect size of 0.15 (p < 0.014). Higher musical ability was also associated with better performance on the numerical working memory task. No statistically significant associations were seen between listening to music and cognitive performance.
“The findings confirm those reported in previous studies, adding strength to the evidence base relating to musical engagement and cognitive health, and highlighting the potential value of education and engagement in musical activities throughout life as a means of harnessing cognitive reserve as part of a protective lifestyle for brain health,” authors concluded.
