A recent project conducted by a research team from Monash University has revealed that listening to music after the age of 70 appears to be associated with a meaningful reduction in dementia risk. 

Examining how both listening to music and playing instruments relate to cognitive health in adults over 70, the study emphasized that musical engagement may serve as a powerful and enjoyable tool for supporting cognitive resilience in aging.

A research team from Monash University analyzed data from more than 10,800 older adults and found that people in this age group who regularly listened to music experienced a 39% lower likelihood of developing dementia. 

Playing an instrument also showed benefits — participants in this group showed a 35% reduction in dementia risk. 

Those who reported that they always listened to music demonstrated the strongest cognitive advantages. This group displayed higher overall cognitive scores and better episodic memory, which is used when recalling everyday events. 

Among the study participants who both listened to and played music on a regular basis had a 33% reduced risk of dementia and a 22% reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

These findings reflect the results of a similar study conducted by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. This research group explored the impact of group music therapy and choir singing on stress markers in saliva for 183 care home residents with dementia and depressive symptoms in three European countries over the course of six months.​

Their findings showed that group-based  interventions, including music therapy, can have a “positive impact on stress levels in care home residents with dementia.”

“[Outcomes of the research] suggests music activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, though causation cannot be established,” Jaffa explained. 

“With no cure currently available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay onset of the disease is critical,” Ryan added. “Evidence suggests that brain aging is not just based on age and genetics but can be influenced by one's own environmental and lifestyle choices. Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music can promote cognitive health.”