Overview
- People over 70 who always listened to music had a 39% lower likelihood of dementia than those who listened never, rarely or only sometimes.
- Regularly playing a musical instrument was associated with a 35% lower likelihood of dementia compared with not playing.
- Combined habits of listening and playing were linked to a 33% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of cognitive impairment.
- Frequent listeners also showed a 17% lower rate of cognitive impairment along with better performance on recall of everyday events.
- The Monash University–led analysis drew on ASPREE and ALSOP data from 10,893 older Australians, relied on self-reported music habits, and cannot establish cause and effect.