Several studies have shown that music can have many benefits for the brain, including improving cognitive function, memory retention, developing social connections, and maintaining a good mood. It is important to note that the benefits appear to be more significant when the participation in music is active, such as singing in a choir or playing an instrument, compared to passive listening to music.

Whether purely instrumental or containing lyrics, music is a creative combination of rhythm, harmony and emotion. Various studies can confirm the degree of health benefits of music. A 2013 study, for example, showed that music has the ability to induce a state of relaxation before stressful situations and can promote rapid recovery of the nervous system. Another study the same year found that listening to music helped reduce pain and anxiety in hospitalized children.

In addition to the physiological benefits, studies have also highlighted the positive effects of music on cognitive health.

Music stimulates neuroplasticity

Active singing and listening to music can help slow cognitive decline in people aged 62 to 78, according to recent research. Researchers have found that playing music increases the volume of gray matter in certain areas of the brain, increasing neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganize its connections, which are necessary for learning and forming memories.

Another 2023 study shows that long-term music training can have significant functional benefits for the brain and help maintain mental agility. These findings highlight the potential of music in the fight against dementia.

Singing improves working memory

A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that adults who play a musical instrument have stronger working memory and better planning and organization skills.

Singing in a choir is also associated with improved cognitive executive function. The more developed musical knowledge and skills, the more effective the working memory. While music is already known to benefit older adults, research has highlighted the additional benefit of participating in musical activities because it engages multiple areas of the brain.

Most of the study participants had been singing for a limited number of years—typically 5 years or less—and reported rehearsing 2 to 3 hours per week. According to researchers, the best musical instrument for the brain was the piano. Those who played wind instruments also had higher cognitive scores, although not as high as those who played piano.

The study did not find a connection between cognition and playing percussion, stringed instruments and guitar. As for singing in a choir, scientists have noted a positive effect on the brain, but it is unclear whether this is a direct result of singing, or whether the socialization associated with this type of musical activity also contributes to cognitive benefits.

The authors note that additional research is needed to clarify this point.

Beneficially affects the cognitive reserve

The results of the study underscore the idea that playing music throughout adulthood is a good way to protect cognitive reserve. It also emphasizes the importance of music education lessons in the school curriculum. Dr. Jenny Dorris, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and a percussionist, said the study “provides new insights into the effects of certain instruments, such as brass, strings and keyboards, on cognitive function and helps us understand what types of musical training are more beneficial.”

He also mentioned another randomized controlled clinical trial that investigated the effects of music therapy by singing in a choir, listening to music, and comparing them to a control group.

The results showed that the group of participants who sang in the choir was the only one to report a significant increase in quality of life. Professor Dr. Larry Sherman of the Oregon Health Institute, USA and author of Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music) told Medical News Today: “This study supports the importance of music therapy in the treatment of memory disorders . Playing music can affect the brain in many ways, including stimulating the formation of myelin, which facilitates the rapid transmission of nerve impulses, and developing synapses, the connections between nerve cells. It can also actually stimulate the creation of new nerve cells.”

Therapeutic benefits for people with dementia

Music can be used as a form of therapy for people with dementia, with benefits such as improving mood, reducing agitation and strengthening personal identity.

Studies have shown that music can stimulate the production of endorphins and dopamine in the brain, neurotransmitters associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness. It can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety that are common in people with dementia. Reducing agitation is another significant benefit of music therapy. For people with dementia who may often experience moments of confusion and anxiety, music can have a calming effect.

Participating in musical activities, such as singing or listening to your favorite songs, can help stabilize your emotional state and reduce agitated behavior. Strengthening personal identity is also a notable outcome of music therapy. Music can trigger autobiographical memories and give people with dementia a sense of connection to their own past.

This is confirmed by researcher Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, who showed that listening to music can bring back vivid memories from the past. Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest, both from a scientific and public point of view, in the ability of music to bring to the fore intense, emotional and detailed autobiographical memories.

Current scientific research in this field allows us to understand the mechanisms by which music generates emotions and reveals important evidence of the effectiveness of music in stimulating memory.

A source of social connections

Participating in musical activities, such as singing in a choir or playing a musical instrument in a group, also promotes social relationships. It can help counteract social isolation and loneliness, factors that can accelerate the progression of dementia.

Participating in such activities stimulates the mind through music while fostering meaningful social connections, promoting a healthy emotional and mental environment for participants.

Thus, the integration of music into social contexts and musical groups can have a positive impact on both mental health and quality of life in general.

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