How Does Playing an Instrument Prevent Alzheimer’s?

According to studies, we are primarily responsible for our risk of developing dementia. Most studies on boosting brain functions focus on maintaining mental and social engagement, eating a balanced diet, and exercising. All of these are still critical. Nonetheless, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society throws light on another practice: Playing an instrument to prevent Alzheimer’s.

According to a meta-analysis of 21 previous studies, playing music rather than merely listening can improve quality of life and mood while delaying and reducing Alzheimer’s risks. According to the study, MCI is “a preclinical condition intermediate between normal cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Playing An Instrument To Keep The Ageing Brain Sharp

While research into medications to reduce or repair the damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease continues, there is evidence for a lower-tech intervention: Music. 

Many studies have shown that playing music can help those with advanced Alzheimer’s by stimulating the brain regions that have not been affected by the disease, reducing emotional distress, and encouraging cognitive improvement.

An updated analysis published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society earlier this year took a different angle: Could people whose cognitive abilities are starting to degrade benefit from engaging in musical activities like playing an instrument or singing? 

The research focused on individuals with mild cognitive impairment, which can be the initial step toward Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

They discovered from 21 studies involving over 1,400 participants worldwide that playing instruments, singing, or participating in music-making can have a modest but consistent benefit in memory and other measures of brain health.

Does Playing an Instrument Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

Currently, the answer is no. But for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, research suggests that singing or playing an instrument can positively affect their emotions and behaviour. The condition does not damage key brain regions associated with musical memory, which means that patients with Alzheimer’s often retain their ability to remember musical information.

Playing a Musical Instrument Improves Self-Awareness

Any creative task, including playing an instrument, is a form of self-expression. A fantastic way to channel your pent-up creativity and enthusiasm into something constructive is to play a musical instrument.

Also, there’s no requirement for pro skills. You must figure out how to express yourself through hand movements, emotions, and thoughts, and every dormant emotion will now start to surface. All of this occurs as the music acts as a vehicle for releasing untapped emotions and feelings. It creates a one-of-a-kind outlet for self-expression that no other method or way can match. An individual’s imagination flourishes whenever they can share their thoughts and feelings with their peers.

As a result, self-awareness grows. That’s why learning an instrument is one of the best investments you can make in your personal development.

Combating Cognitive Decline and Dementia (AD)

Currently, there’s no known cure or treatment to prevent or reduce Alzheimer’s risks (a highly chronic disease), and there is also no known way to slow the progression of neurodegeneration. So far, the only treatment available is to slow the disease’s progression.

More and more people have turned to psychosocial interventions since the 1960s to combat or reduce Alzheimer’s risk. However, its frequency has increased with the beginning of the new millennium. One of the most popular kinds of these interventions is music therapy.

Many therapists advocate for beginning music therapy with AD patients as soon as possible, as it has been shown to affect the disease positively. One non-pharmaceutical approach that may help people with AD is music lessons. Also, encouraging them to copy more accurately and communicate better can yield better results.

Remember that music is excellent for the brain and helps older people with mild dementia adjust better to new environments. Playing an instrument can improve their general quality of life during a challenging time.

Playing An Instrument Improves Grey Matter

Many studies have compared the brain scans of people who play instruments to those who do not. And it appears that the brain structures of these two groups of people differ significantly. The first category includes musicians who regularly play at least one musical instrument.

The corpus callosum, a group of fibres connecting the two halves of the brain, exhibits the most differences. 

Aside from that, professional keyboard players appear to have more significant brain regions that control hearing, movement, and visuospatial abilities.

Conclusively, playing an instrument increases the amount of gray matter in the brain.

Musical Expression Helps To Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

According to a Forbes magazine article, numerous creative techniques of self-expression improve health and well-being. Anxiety, stress, and depression all decrease when a person engages in creative activities. The reason is the “feel-good” hormone, Dopamine, releases whenever a person engages in a repetitive creative motion, such as strumming a guitar or playing the piano.

The consistent release of this pleasure hormone should provide a more upbeat sense of health, well-being, and happiness. It also explains how it may benefit your mental health and is an excellent alternative to the rush that alcohol or drugs provide.

Not only that but playing musical instruments also lowers and regulates blood pressure. Again, this is the result of improved emotional and mental calmness.

How to Get Started

Here are some tips on how to begin learning a new instrument as an older adult:

• Choose an instrument that you adore. It makes learning much more enjoyable and more manageable.
• Don’t expect to become a musical genius right away. Just like everything else, practice makes perfect. So if you take your time and do it every day for about 30 minutes, you’ll see improvements and advance your abilities!
• Pick an instrument with the correct size. Buying an instrument you can play without causing pain or strain to your muscles, limbs, or joints is critical.
• Ensure the instrument’s weight and material are a good fit for you. For example, a heavy metal fitting instrument may be easier to break than one made of lighter materials.

Best musical instrument for seniors to start learning

Although it is entirely optional, here are the best nine instruments you can try learning:

• Ukulele
• Guitar
• Bongo Drums
• Mandolin
• Piano
• Flute
• Violin
• Cello
• Harmonica

Final Words

As of today, there is still no cure for age-related cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer’s. But, many studies suggest that playing an instrument, whichever it is, can potentially slow, delay or prevent the onset of mental decline (Alzheimer’s). Besides having mental and cognitive benefits, playing an instrument can lower blood pressure, relieve stress and anxiety, and improve your mood in those more challenging times. It’s both healthy and fun, so why not start learning one?