Music Lessons in Childhood Tied to Aging Cognition & Brain Function

Anne’s 10 years of classical piano lessons just might pay off. In a small study of 70 healthy adults age 60 to 83, those who scored significantly better on several cognitive tests had studied music as children. The tests related to visual-spatial memory, naming objects and cognitive flexibility, or the brain’s ability to adapt to new information.

“Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging,” said lead researcher Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, PhD. “Since studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines as we get older.” via Science Daily