Research shows that listening to music may reduce dementia risk by up to 40%

Listening to music not only moves the mind, but is also known to have various effects on the brain. A study of more than 10,000 elderly people showed that listening to music in people over 70 years old may reduce the risk of dementia by approximately 40%.

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry | Wiley Online Library

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.70163

Music can stall off dementia by up to 40 per cent, Monash study finds - News Hub
https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2025/10/music-can-stave-off-dementia-by-up-to-40-percent-monash-study-finds/126069/

Listening to Music Has a Surprising Impact on Dementia Risk, Study Shows : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/listening-to-music-has-a-surprising-impact-on-dementia-risk-study-shows

A research team led by Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan, who study public health at Monash University in Australia, analyzed data from a longitudinal study of older adults living in Australia to examine the effects of listening to music or playing an instrument on cognitive function in older adults.

The study involved 10,893 adults aged 70 years or older who had not been diagnosed with dementia at the time of the study's start. They answered questions about their music-listening habits and whether they played a musical instrument. The participants were followed for at least three years, and the study examined the relationship between music-related activities and the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND).

The analysis revealed that elderly people who listen to music frequently have a 39% lower risk of dementia and a 17% lower risk of CIND compared to those who never, rarely, or occasionally listen to music. Elderly people who listen to music frequently also had higher scores in overall cognitive ability and episodic memory, which is the recall of everyday events.

On the other hand, older adults who regularly played an instrument were 35% less likely to develop dementia, but no significant improvement in CIND was observed. Furthermore, older adults who habitually played an instrument in addition to listening to music had a 33% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of CIND.

The study also found that the effect of music-related activities on dementia and CIND risk was generally more pronounced in people with 16 or more years of education (university graduate equivalent), while results were inconsistent in those with 12-15 years of secondary education (junior high school or high school graduate equivalent).

'While this study does not establish a causal relationship, it does suggest that music activities may be an effective tool for maintaining cognitive health in older adults,' said Jaffa.

'Listening to music activates different areas of the brain, providing real cognitive stimulation which can help reduce the risk of dementia,' Professor Ryan said.