A study conducted in the United Kingdom has found that playing any musical instrument or singing is beneficial for the brain health of the elderly. The study, published in The International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, also points out that learning music and playing instruments can help maintain memory and the ability to perform complex tasks.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter, involved 1,100 people over the age of 40. Their average age was 68 years. Researchers evaluated the effects on the brain caused by playing a musical instrument, singing, reading a book, and listening to music. The data obtained from this were compared with the data of people who did not have any interaction with music.
Researchers suggest that playing the piano or keyboard is particularly beneficial. The study report adds that playing brass and woodwind instruments such as the flute, saxophone, and trumpet is also useful for maintaining brain health. At the same time, the researchers did not find any benefit from merely listening to music. Singing by joining a choir or group of singers allows for social interaction, researchers say.
The study stresses that those who play a musical instrument daily also have better numerical memory. Professor Anne Corbett, who led the study, said in an interview with the BBC that our brain is like a muscle and it needs exercise. The report recommends that music should become part of a lifestyle approach to maintaining brain health.
