Listening to music slashes dementia risk
Listening to your favorite songs may help protect you against dementia.
Scientists at Monash University in Australia tracked more than 10,800 adults over the age of 70 and found that those who listened to music regularly had a 39 percent lower risk of developing the condition compared to those who listened to music infrequently.
Playing a musical instrument also reduced the risk by 35 percent, while the combination of both habits reduced the risk of dementia by a third.
The study found that frequent music listeners not only had fewer cases of dementia but also performed better on tests of memory and general cognition.
Professor Joanne Ryan, senior author of the study, said: “Evidence shows that brain aging is not just based on age and genetics, but can also be influenced by a person’s own environmental and lifestyle choices. Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music, can improve cognitive health.”
Researchers say such accessible lifestyle changes, for which there is no cure for dementia, can play a vital role in delaying or even preventing the onset of the disease.
