Learning Music May Slow Brain Aging, Say Scientists

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Two new studies suggest that learning and playing music could support brain health and slow cognitive decline, even when started later in life. These findings add weight to the growing interest in music as more than just a creative outlet, it may also be a tool for maintaining cognitive function as we age.

Study 1: Lifelong Musicians Show Brain Responses Similar to Young Adults

The first study, published in PLOS Biology, was led by a team of researchers in Canada and China. It involved 74 participants, split into three groups: 25 older adults who had played a musical instrument for more than three decades, 25 older adults with no musical training, and 24 younger adults with no musical background.

All participants underwent MRI scans while listening to speech in a noisy environment. They were asked to identify the main speaker among multiple background voices.

The findings revealed that the older musicians processed the auditory information in a way that closely resembled the younger adults. Their brain scans showed stronger activity in the right hemisphere, which helped them tune into speech more efficiently. In contrast, the older non-musicians had to compensate by engaging both sides of their brain, an adaptation linked to increased cognitive strain.

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Dr. Yi Du, co-author of the study, described the results by comparing the brain to an instrument: “Just like a well-tuned instrument doesn’t need to be played louder to be heard, the brains of older musicians stay finely tuned thanks to years of training.”

Study 2: Late-Life Learners Still Benefit

A second study, published in Imaging Neuroscience by researchers at Kyoto University in Japan, explored whether individuals could see similar cognitive benefits even if they began learning an instrument later in life.

Researchers initially followed 53 participants, with an average age of 73, who had taken up a new instrument for a four-month training program. At the time, there was little measurable impact on their brain health.

However, when the same individuals were re-evaluated four years later, those who had continued playing their instruments showed stronger memory function and preserved brain structure. MRI scans showed that the putamen—a brain region associated with motor skills and memory—had shrunk in those who stopped playing, while it remained intact in those who continued.

Music, Brain Health, and Cognitive Reserve

The findings from both studies support the idea of “cognitive reserve”, a concept describing the brain’s ability to adapt and protect itself against aging and decline. Music practice appears to enhance this reserve by keeping parts of the brain active and engaged, particularly those involved in memory, learning, and auditory processing.

Although scientists like Dr. Morten Scheibye-Knudsen from the University of Copenhagen caution that evidence around brain-training activities can be mixed, he acknowledged that music may offer direct neurological benefits. He also pointed out that playing music can increase social engagement, which is known to be critical for healthy aging.

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Instrument Playing on the Rise Among Older Adults

According to a 2025 YouGov poll, about 25 percent of UK adults report being able to play at least one musical instrument. A similar 2024 poll by the University of Michigan found that 17 percent of US adults aged 50 to 80 play instruments at least occasionally.

While more research is needed to fully understand how music affects the brain over time, the new studies support the idea that it’s never too late to start. Continuing to engage with music whether as a beginner or seasoned musician may help protect the brain as it ages.

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