A research study by the University of Exeter, involving over a thousand adults aged 40 and over, reveals that lifelong musical engagement, especially playing instruments like the piano, is linked to enhanced cognitive functions such as memory and executive function in older age.Engaging in music throughout your life is associated with better brain health in older age, according to a new research study released by experts at the University of Exeter.Engaging in music throughout your life is associated with better brain health in older age, according to a new study released by experts at the University of Exeter.Scientists working on PROTECT, an online study open to people aged 40 and over, examined data from more than a thousand adults over the age of 40 to see the result of playing a musical instrument– or singing in a choir– on brain health.” Stuart Douglas, a 78-year-old accordion gamer from Cornwall, has played the instrument throughout his life and now plays with the Cober Valley Accordion Band as well as the Cornish Division of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.He stated: “I learned to play the accordion as a young boy living in a mining town in Fife and carried on throughout my career in the authorities force and beyond. We regularly play at memory cafes so have seen the result that our music has on individuals with memory loss, and as older artists ourselves we have no doubt that continuing with music into older age has played an important function in keeping our brains healthy.
