Music engagement is associated with substantially lower dementia risk in older adults

A new study provides evidence that older adults who frequently engage with music may have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. The research, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, indicates that consistently listening to music was associated with up to a 39 percent reduced risk, while regularly playing an instrument was linked to a 35 percent reduced risk. These findings suggest that music-related activities could be an accessible way to support cognitive health in later life.

Researchers were motivated to conduct this study because of the growing global health challenge posed by aging populations and the corresponding rise in dementia cases. As life expectancy increases, so does the prevalence of age-related conditions like cognitive decline. With no current cure for dementia, identifying lifestyle factors that might help prevent or delay its onset has become a major focus of scientific inquiry.

While some previous research pointed to potential cognitive benefits from music, many of those studies were limited. They often involved small groups of participants, included people who already had cognitive problems, or were susceptible to selection bias. This new study aimed to overcome these limitations by using a large, long-term dataset of older adults who were cognitively healthy at the beginning of the research period. The team also wanted to explore how education level might influence the relationship between music engagement and cognitive outcomes.

The investigation utilized data from a large-scale Australian study called ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) and its sub-study. The final analysis included 10,893 community-dwelling adults who were 70 years of age or older and did not have a dementia diagnosis when they enrolled. These participants were followed for a median of 4.7 years, with some observational follow-up extending beyond that period.

About three years into the study, participants answered questions about their social activities, including how often they listened to music or played a musical instrument. Their responses ranged from “never” to “always.” Researchers then tracked the participants’ cognitive health over subsequent years through annual assessments. Dementia diagnoses were made by an expert panel based on rigorous criteria, while a condition known as cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), a less severe form of cognitive decline, was also identified.

Free daily newsletter

The findings indicate a strong association between music engagement and a lower risk of dementia. Individuals who reported “always” listening to music had a 39 percent decreased risk of developing dementia compared to those who listened never, rarely, or sometimes. This group also showed a 17 percent decreased risk of developing CIND.

Regularly playing a musical instrument was also associated with positive outcomes. Those who played an instrument “often” or “always” had a 35 percent decreased dementia risk compared to those who played rarely or never. However, playing an instrument did not show a significant association with a reduced risk of CIND.

When researchers looked at individuals who engaged in both activities, they found a combined benefit. Participants who frequently listened to music and played an instrument had a 33 percent decreased risk of dementia. This group also showed a 22 percent decreased risk of CIND.

Beyond the risk of dementia or CIND, the study also examined changes in performance on specific cognitive tests over time. Consistently listening to music was associated with better scores in global cognition, which is a measure of overall thinking abilities, as well as in memory. Playing an instrument was not linked to significant changes in scores on these cognitive tests. Neither listening to nor playing music appeared to be associated with changes in participants’ self-reported quality of life or mental wellbeing.

The research team also explored whether a person’s level of education affected these associations. The results suggest that education may play a role, particularly for music listening. The association between listening to music and a lower dementia risk was most pronounced in individuals with 16 or more years of education. In this highly educated group, always listening to music was linked to a 63 percent reduced risk.

The findings were less consistent for those with 12 to 15 years of education, where no significant protective association was observed. The researchers note this particular result was unexpected and may warrant further investigation to understand potential underlying factors.

The study has several limitations that are important to consider. Because it is an observational study, it can only identify associations between music and cognitive health; it cannot establish that music engagement directly causes a reduction in dementia risk. It is possible that individuals with healthier brains are simply more likely to engage with music, a concept known as reverse causation. The study’s participants were also generally healthier than the average older adult population, which may limit how broadly the findings can be applied.

Additionally, the data on music engagement was self-reported, which could introduce inaccuracies. The survey did not collect details on the type of music, the duration of listening or playing sessions, or whether listening to the radio involved music or talk-based content. Such details could be important for understanding the mechanisms behind the observed associations.

Future research could build on these findings by examining longer-term outcomes and exploring which specific aspects of music engagement might be most beneficial. Studies involving more diverse populations could also help determine if these associations hold true across different groups. Ultimately, randomized controlled trials would be needed to determine if actively encouraging music engagement as an intervention can directly improve cognitive function and delay the onset of dementia in older adults.

The study, “What Is the Association Between Music-Related Leisure Activities and Dementia Risk? A Cohort Study,” was authored by 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.