Wellness Biohacking: Listening to Music Can Shield the Brain from Decline
A fascinating study from Monash University in Australia has revealed that listening to music could be a simple yet powerful way to protect the brain from dementia. Researchers found that older adults who regularly listened to music had a 39 percent lower risk of developing dementia, while those who played a musical instrument showed a 35 percent reduction in risk.
Listening to or playing music may reduce dementia risk by keeping the brain active and resilient in later life.
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Conducted by a team from Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, including honors student Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan, the large-scale study involved more than 10,800 participants aged 70 and above. The findings suggest that music may help preserve memory, attention, and mental agility as people age. This Wellness Biohacking news report highlights that these discoveries could transform how we approach cognitive health in older populations.
The Power of Music on the Aging Brain
The research drew from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study and its companion project, the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP). Participants’ music habits were analyzed over time, including how often they listened to or played music. Those who always listened to music showed not only a 39 percent lower chance of developing dementia but also a 17 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment without dementia.
Meanwhile, older adults who played musical instruments frequently or always had a 35 percent decreased risk of developing dementia. Interestingly, those who engaged in both listening and playing enjoyed a combined 33 percent lower risk of dementia and a 22 percent lower risk of mild cognitive impairment. These results highlight that even passive engagement—like listening—can significantly benefit brain health.
Education and Lifestyle Matter Too
The study also explored how education levels influenced the effects of music engagement. The benefits were strongest among people with more than 16 years of education, suggesting that cognitive reserves built through lifelong learning may enhance the protective effects of musical activities.
Lead researcher Emma Jaffa explained that while the study cannot prove direct causation, it clearly shows a strong link between musical activities and cognitive health. Professor Ryan added that dementia prevention is now one of the biggest global health challenges, with no cure available. Therefore, identifying accessible, low-cost lifestyle habits—such as music listening—offers hope for millions worldwide.
Music as a Simple Brain-Health Strategy
As the world’s population ages, dementia cases are expected to rise sharply. However, the Monash University findings provide encouraging evidence that personal lifestyle choices can make a real difference. Music stimulates multiple parts of the brain, promotes emotional well-being, and may even build new neural connections that delay cognitive decline.
For older adults and their families, incorporating regular music listening or learning an instrument could be a joyful and effective way to maintain brain function and quality of life. This accessible approach may complement medical and therapeutic interventions in the future.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.70163
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