A LARGE Australian cohort study has found that regular engagement in music for dementia prevention, through listening or playing, was linked to a substantially reduced risk of cognitive decline in older adults.
Exploring the Role of Music for Dementia Prevention
Growing evidence suggests that music for dementia may do more than lift the spirit, it could help protect the brain. Researchers have long observed that musical activities stimulate multiple areas of the brain, improving memory, attention, and emotional regulation. This new study explored whether these benefits extend to reducing dementia risk and maintaining cognitive wellbeing in ageing populations.
Study Methods and Key Results
Researchers analysed data from 10,893 community-dwelling Australian adults aged 70 years and older enrolled in the ASPREE and ALSOP studies. All participants were cognitively healthy at recruitment and followed from year three onwards. Using Cox proportional hazard regression models, the team assessed how levels of musical engagement (listening, playing an instrument, or both) affected dementia and cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) risk.
Always listening to music was linked to a 39% reduced dementia risk (95% CI = 0.45, 0.82, p = 0.001) and a 17% lower risk of CIND (95% CI = 0.74, 0.92, p = 0.001). Playing an instrument often or always was associated with a 35% lower dementia risk (95% CI = 0.42, 0.99, p = 0.047). Participants who both listened to and played music experienced a 33% reduction in dementia risk and a 22% reduction in CIND risk. Notably, benefits were strongest among those with more than 16 years of education.
Clinical Implications and Future Directions
These findings support music for dementia as a promising, low-cost intervention to help preserve cognitive function and delay dementia onset. While causation cannot yet be confirmed, encouraging regular musical engagement in older adults could form part of wider dementia prevention strategies. Future research should explore the biological mechanisms linking musical activity to brain health and whether structured musical programmes could enhance clinical outcomes.
Reference
Jaffa E et al. What is the association between music‐related leisure activities and dementia risk? a cohort study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2025;40(10):e70163.
