Brain Boost Later in Life for Children Who Play Musical Instruments

Your music students might become sharper-thinking seniors because of your classes!

There might be yet another benefit associated with childhood music education. A recent study published in Psychology and Aging reveals an association between playing a musical instrument in childhood and cognitive benefits later in life. 

The research surrounds a group of study participants from Edinburgh and the Lothians born in 1936.  At the age of 11, the participants took part in a series of tests through the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947. Repeat testing of the individuals occurred as they aged. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier  University studied the participants, who had been tested again at the age of 70, to investigate the potential link between playing a musical instrument in childhood and cognitive benefits on the ageing brain.  

Higher results on cognitive tests

The older adults in the study who had played musical instruments as children achieved slightly higher results on cognitive tests, such as those that assessed processing speed and visuospatial ability. 

However, since other childhood factors might have influenced the results, further study is needed. So far, the results cannot yet prove that musical instrument learning in childhood results in stronger cognitive ability later in life. But the study does reveal that playing an instrument in childhood might have a positive effect on brain function later on. The researchers believe that their findings are promising enough for further study. 

The power of music education 

This study is of great interest to teachers who know the value of musical education. If music education can have such a positive impact on our brains across our lifetime, this is more evidence to support the inclusion of music programs in schools and better funding for such programs. 

Related 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8282069/