Listening to music most days could lower dementia risks for older adults, study suggests

Listening to music on a regular basis later in life could significantly reduce the risk of dementia, new research suggests.

The Australian research team analysed data from more than 10,800 adults aged 70 or older, and found that those who regularly listened to music had a 39 per cent lower likelihood of developing dementia compared with those who never or only occasionally listened to music.

People who always listened to music saw not only a lower incidence of dementia but also a 17 per cent reduction in cognitive impairment, higher overall cognitive scores, and improved episodic memory, which is used when recalling everyday events.

Meanwhile, playing a musical instrument was also associated with brain health benefits: a 35 per cent reduction in dementia risk.

People who both listened to and played music had a 33 per cent reduced risk of dementia and a 22 per cent lower risk of cognitive impairment.

The findings suggest “music activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults," said Emma Jaffa, one of the study's authors from Monash University.

However, the study authors cautioned that their findings are observational and cannot prove that listening to music actually reduces dementia risks or improves cognitive wellbeing.

The study has some limitations, notably the potential for selection bias, reliance on self-reported music habits, and the possibility of reverse causation – all of which "underscore the need for cautious interpretation," they said.

They said future research could investigate whether any particular music types are more closely linked to lower dementia risks.

The study comes as dementia's toll continues to grow around the world. More than 57 million people worldwide live with the condition, including an estimated 9.8 million in Europe. That number is expected to grow in the coming decades.

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, there are over 10 million new cases of dementia every year, which works out to one new case every 3.2 seconds.