Playing music when you're older could come with brain benefits

Picture a world where music doesn't exist—no lively school bands, catchy jingles, or celebrated Grammy moments. It's a bleak scenario, but thankfully, music is an integral part of our lives.

Exciting new research shows that playing an instrument or singing can greatly improve cognitive abilities, particularly in older adults.

“According to a study from earlier this year (Vetere et al., 2024), melodies may also help older brains, particularly when they are the ones playing them. All in all, the authors found a clear correlation between cognitive performance and musical variables. Playing an instrument was related to higher working memory and executive functioning, and, in addition, a positive association was found between singing and the latter variable.”