Normal aging is associated with progressive cognitive decline. But can we train our brain to delay this process? A team has discovered that practicing and listening to music can alter cognitive decline in healthy seniors by stimulating the production of grey matter.

To achieve these results, the researchers followed over 100 retired people who had never practiced music before. They were enrolled in piano and music awareness training for six months.

Working memory is a core cognitive process that allows us to briefly retain and manipulate information to achieve a goal. Remembering a telephone number long enough to write it down or translating a sentence from a foreign language are examples.

The results demonstrated that engaging in music related activities promoted brain plasticity, which led to an increase in grey matter volume. The researchers also observed positive impacts on working memory.

Don’t play an instrument? No problem! Even listening to music prevents brain aging!

Source: Science Daily

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230417142520.htm