July 20, 2012 in Neuroscience Musical instrumental training,
when compared to other activities, may reduce the effects of memory decline and
cognitive aging (Medical Xpress) -- It turns out mom was right. Music lessons
are good for you, and those benefits may last a lifetime. A recent study
conducted by Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist in Emory
University School of Medicine’s Department of Neurology, offers additional
evidence that musical instrumental training, when compared to other activities,
may reduce the effects of memory decline and cognitive aging. This is the
second study published by Hanna-Pladdy, which confirms and refines findings
from an original study published in Neuropsychology in 2011 that revealed that
musicians with at least 10 years of instrumental musical training remained
cognitively sharp in advanced age. The findings were published in the July
issue of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “The study confirms that musical
activity preserves cognition as we age, by comparing variability in cognitive
outcomes of older adults active in musical instrumental and other leisure
activities,” says Hanna-Pladdy. “A range of cognitive benefits, including
memory, was sustained for musicians between the ages of 60-80 if they played
for at least 10 years throughout their life, confirming that maintenance of
advantages is not reliant on continued activity. In other words, you don’t use
it or lose it. Nonetheless, the study highlighted the critical importance of
the timing of musical activity, which may optimize cognitive benefits.” The
cognitive enhancements in older musicians included a range of verbal and
nonverbal functions, as well as memory, which is the hallmark of Alzhemier’s
pathology. The study evaluated the timing of musical engagement to determine
whether there is a critical period of musical training for optimal cognitive
advantages in advanced age. While years of playing music were the best
indication of enhanced cognition in advanced age, the results revealed
different sensitive periods for cognitive development across the lifespan. Early
age of acquisition, before age nine, predicted verbal working memory functions
such as remembering and reorganizing digits in your head, consistent with early
sensitive periods in brain development. Sustained musical activity in advanced
age predicted other non-verbal abilities involving visuospatial judgment,
suggesting it is never too late to be musically active. Continued musical
activity in advanced age also appeared to buffer lower educational levels. “This is an exciting finding in light of recent evidence suggesting that
high educational levels are likely to yield cognitive reserve that may
potentially delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms or cognitive decline,” says
Hanna-Pladdy. “This also highlights the promising role of musical activity as a
form of cognitive enrichment across the lifespan, and it raises the question of
whether musical training should eventually be considered an alternative form of
educational training.” According to Hanna-Pladdy, to obtain optimal results,
individuals should start musical training before age nine, play at least 10
years or more and if possible, keep playing for as long as possible over the
age of 60. Music rocks. Musical activity was found to preserve cognition,
including memory, as you age, when comparing variability in cognitive outcomes
of older adults active in musical instrumental and other leisure activities.
You won’t lose it if you don’t use it. A range of cognitive benefits including
memory were sustained for musicians between the ages of 60-80 if they played
for at least 10 years throughout their life, confirming the maintenance of
advantages is not reliant on continued activity. Start young. Timing of musical
instrumental acquisition, before age nine, is important in optimizing cognitive
benefits and was associated with enhanced verbal working memory functions. It’s
never too late, so keep at it. Sustained musical activity over the age of 60
was associated with other nonverbal cognitive benefits, and appeared to compensate
for low educational attainment, which is possibly the greatest protection
against age-related cognitive declines. This suggests that musical training
should be considered an alternative form of education. Journal reference:
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Provided by Emory University
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