Can Listening to Your Favorite Music Really Help Prevent Cognitive Decline?

Scientists have found that repeatedly listening to our favorite may improve brain plasticity when dealing with mild cognitive impairments or early-stage Alzheimer's.

Take two minutes to read, explore, and reflect. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Listening to Your Favorite Music Can Help Prevent Cognitive Decline    Music can make us feel all kinds of ways. It helps us feel joyful, it allows us to deeply feel our feelings, and it sends us soaring back to moments and eras of our past. In addition to affecting our moods, scientists have found that repeatedly listening to our favorite music may improve brain plasticity when dealing with mild cognitive impairments or early-stage Alzheimer's.   A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease noticed an improvement in cognitive abilities among participants who listened to music that resonated with them. The small study consisted of 14 patients with mild cognitive impairments or Alzheimer's. Six were musicians and eight were not, but the results for both were the same.   Participants had MRI scans before and after a three-week period in which they listened to music they'd loved for 20+ years and music that was new to them. Modest improvements in cognitive performance and functional connectivity were noted when they listened to familiar music versus new compositions.   Science also tells us that singing is great for your mental health—even if you're not very good at it! It allows you to deeply tap into (and work through) different emotions, triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine, and creates opportunity for thoughtful breathing.     Taking a trip down memory lane with the help of old favorites can give the brain a boost, both cognitively and emotionally."  — DAVID MERRILL, MD What This Means For You Here's your excuse to listen to familiar favorites—AKA the jams you could listen to on repeat—as often as you'd like. For extra credit, sing along with the tunes! And if you know someone who's in the early stages of Alzheimer's or is dealing with mild cognitive impairments, encourage or help them incorporate music-based interventions into their day.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week What's Inspiring Us Trigger memories of your favorite songs with Lisa Nola's "Music Listography Journal." Each page provides different music-related prompts and invites you to make a list around the topic. Think top 20 favorite albums and concerts you wish you could go to again, and more. Products to Help You Feel Your Best If you know someone with a collection of albums but no way to listen, consider giving them a modern-day vintage-style, portable Victrola. Available in 12 colors, it plays your favorite albums through a Bluetooth speaker. For a more streamlined device, look into the Simple Music Player. Ideal for people who aren't "tech-savvy" or have cognitive issues, it plays tunes with the push of one button. Exercise your mind with these top-rated crossword puzzle books recommended by brain training experts and enthusiasts. Read These Next 10 Surprising Psychological Benefits of Music READ NOW How Dancing Helps Your Mental Health, Too READ NOW 10 Strategies to Fight Brain Aging READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy