Whether you are a music producer (meaning you sing or play an instrument) or a music appreciator ( you listen to music or attend performances), the evidence is mounting that the presence of music in your life can be a powerful ally in maintaining cognitive functioning well into your later years. It can also work to delay or diminish the effects of dementia, including depression, anxiety, and distress. And if you combine that love of music with being in nature (perhaps listening while you are on a walk or singing while gardening), all the better, as the combination of music and nature appears to help improve your mood and lower your feelings of stress. So put on your headphones and let’s take a look at some of the recent research literature.

A brand new study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry examined the benefits of listening to or playing music among more than 10,000 adults over age 70. For those who described themselves as always listening to music, their risk of dementia was 39% lower than those who said they rarely or only sometimes listened to music. Similarly, for those who said they played an instrument, they had a 35% decreased risk of dementia in comparison to those who did not play an instrument. While this study did not prove causation, it does seem to suggest that music may be an easily accessible and enjoyable way for older adults to maintain their cognitive health. For more on this study from Monash University, strike a chord and click here. Earlier studies from this past summer report similar connections between music and cognitive resilience. In a study published in PLOS Biology, researchers report that long-time musicians, having played musical instruments for many years, appear to maintain a level of cognitive reserve that supports a more youthful connectivity in neural networks in the brain.

It even appears that taking up an instrument later in life could help support better cognitive functioning as you get older. Another study out of Kyoto University from this past summer reports that taking up an instrument in old age may be an effective strategy to postpone or even prevent cognitive decline. In this study, researchers looked at the brains of older adults (average age 73) who had taken up an instrument for more than 3 years later in life, in comparison to a group that had switched hobbies and forsaken their instruments. Those who went on to other hobbies saw a noticeable decline in the putamen and cerebellum portions of their brains, while those who continued with their music did not suffer that decline. The non-musicians saw a slippage in verbal working memory and a volume decrease in grey matter, while the musicians maintained their cognitive functioning. Moral of this story? Taking up an instrument even later in age could be an effective and enjoyable way to maintain your brain health well into your later years!

When it comes to those who have already experienced the effects of dementia, music can also play a valuable role in soothing agitation and ameliorating depression. According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, hospitalized patients with dementia can find compassion and relief from distress at low cost and without the side effects of medication through a strategy of singing, playing an instrument, or listening to music. Another recent study found that music therapy was an effective way to relieve depression in people with dementia. Especially for older adults experiencing difficult emotional symptoms associated with dementia, music appears to be a low-cost, low-risk method of providing relief and support.

And for those who find music to be a wonderful strategy for walking down memory lane, you may find joy (and humor) in some recent “revisions” to some favorite Beatles music, “adapted” to meet your later-in-life trials and tribulations. So, fire up your record player, and take a look here.