It's Not Too Late at 70: How Daily "Music Time" Might Lower the Risk of Dementia

"Favorite Music" May Protect the Brain in Old Age

As the population ages, dementia is no longer a "distant disease." In Germany alone, about 1.8 million people suffer from dementia, and it is predicted to increase to 2.3 to 2.7 million by 2050.DIE WELT

With no definitive cure yet, "how to delay the onset even a little" is a pressing theme for many people.

Amidst this, news that "music might reduce the risk of dementia" has become a global topic. The German news site "WELT" introduced a large-scale epidemiological study by Monash University in Australia.DIE WELT

Data from Over 10,000 People Aged 70 and Above Showed the Link Between "Music" and Dementia Risk

The research team analyzed the relationship between how people engage with music and the subsequent onset of dementia among 10,893 community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 70 and above who participated in the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study.research.monash.edu

The survey focused on three main points.

1. How often they listen to music

   • Frequency categories such as "rarely/sometimes," "occasionally," and "always."

2. Whether they play a musical instrument (frequency)

3. Whether they are involved in both listening and playing

Furthermore, they statistically adjusted for factors such as age, gender, and education history, and tracked data over several years to see "who was diagnosed with dementia."research.monash.edu

As a result,

• People who "always listen to music"
  had a 39% lower risk of dementia compared to those who rarely or only sometimes listen.DIE WELT

• People who "often/always play a musical instrument"
  had a 35% lower risk of dementia.DIE WELT

• For those who frequently engage in both listening and playing,
  the risk of dementia was reduced by 33%, and the risk of mild cognitive impairment and other issues was also reduced by about 20%.research.monash.edu

Furthermore, people actively involved in music

• performed well on overall cognitive function tests,

• and also scored high on "episodic memory," which involves recalling daily events.
  research.monash.edu

Professor Joanne Ryan, the lead author of the study, commented, "Since there is currently no complete cure for dementia, finding lifestyle habits that can delay its onset or reduce the risk is extremely important."DIE WELT

Why Music Is Good for the Brain

There have been talks about music being good for the brain for some time, but why does this happen?

• When listening to music,not only the auditory cortex is stimulated, but also

  • the "motor system" that makes you want to move your body to the rhythm,

  • the "reward and emotional systems" that make you feel joy or nostalgia,

  • and the "language system" that understands the meaning of lyrics,
    among other wide networks that are simultaneously stimulated.ScienceAlert

• Especially, songs strongly tied to life events are deeply connected to a memory system called "episodic memory." Hearing a song from your high school days can instantly bring back the scenery and smells of that time—that feeling.
  The Washington Post

In this way, music acts as a "full-body workout" stimulus that activates multiple brain regions at once, potentially slowing the rate of cognitive decline in the long term. However, this study is an "observational study," and it cannot be definitively stated that music itself is the direct cause.Wiley Online Library

Reactions on Social Media: "My Grandmother Also Loves Music" and "But It's Not Just Music"

When the WELT article and Monash University's press release were published, various voices emerged on social media. Here are some notable "trends" in the reactions (summarized from specific posts).

1. Voices of Empathy and "My Family Was Like That Too"

• "My grandfather, who loved music, could still remember lyrics fluently even after 90. Reading that article made me think, 'I knew it.'"

• "My mother with dementia suddenly smiles and starts singing when we play tango music she used to dance to in her youth. The power of music is truly great."

Such "anecdotes" were quite common both in Japan and abroad. In caregiving settings, music is already widely used as a tool to "ease the person's mood and anxiety," and many feel that "data is finally catching up."arXiv

2. Calm Criticism: "Correlation Is Not Causation"

On the other hand, such opinions were also seen on X (formerly Twitter).

• "People who like music might naturally be more sociable or have higher income and education levels. That might also have an impact."

• "If listening to music alone could prevent dementia, it wouldn't be so hard. I want to understand it as just one of the factors that might reduce risk."

Indeed, while the study statistically adjusted for age, gender, and education history, the possibility that "people who like music might have other healthy lifestyle habits" cannot be completely ruled out. The research team itself is cautious, stating that "causal relationships have not been proven."research.monash.edu

3. Declarations of Practice: "I'll Try It from Today"

The positive aspect was that there were quite a few posts saying, "Then I'll start from today."

• "Instead of morning news, I'll play a playlist of songs from my parents' generation."

• "I made a one-hour playlist of nursery rhymes my grandmother loved. I'll listen to it with her this weekend."

• "I used to be a podcast person during my commute, but after reading this, I created a music day."

Even without "perfect evidence," because it is "something with few side effects that can be done immediately," it seems to be a theme that many people find easy to act upon.ニュース.com.au

"Just Listening to Music Isn't Enough"

After reading this far, you might want to think, "Just listen to music a lot, and you can prevent dementia!" but caution is needed.

• Music research isobservational research, and it has not proven a causal relationship that "music prevents dementia."

• Dementia risk involves many factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, lack of exercise, hearing loss, and social isolation.ニュース.com.au

• Experts emphasize that "music is just one piece of the prevention puzzle and should be considered in combination with exercise, sleep, diet, and social participation."The Sun

Nevertheless, the reason music is gaining attention is simple.

1. It is cost-effective (or relatively inexpensive)

2. It brings joy and healing as a "rewarding habit"

3. It can be enjoyable not only for the elderly themselves but also for their families and caregivers

The fact that it is a preventive measure that "you want to do" rather than "have to do" is actually a very important point.

How to Incorporate "Music Habits" Starting Today

So, how should music be incorporated into daily life? While the research does not provide a specific "correct menu," insights from social media voices and music therapy practices offer some practical ideas.##HTML_TAG_