New Study Links Regular Music Listening to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

A major new study from Monash University suggests that older adults who regularly engage with music may enjoy a significantly lower risk of developing dementia later in life, reports Jason Blake on Limelight. Drawing on data from over 10,800 Australians aged 70 and older, the research indicates that musical engagement could be a simple and accessible tool for supporting brain health in old age.

The study, led by Monash honors student Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan, found that older adults who reported always listening to music had a 39 percent decreased risk of dementia compared to those who rarely or never listened. Furthermore, playing a musical instrument was associated with a 35 percent reduction in dementia risk.

Researchers explored these associations using Cox proportional-hazards regression, adjusting for factors like age, sex, and education level. They also found that participants who always listened to music showed a 17 percent lower risk of cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND). The protective effect appeared strongest among participants with more than 16 years of education, suggesting education may modify the association.

While the observational nature of the research means it cannot confirm a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, the size and robustness of the findings are compelling. With global dementia rates climbing, this new evidence positions music not just as a source of pleasure, but as a potential public-health ally for older adults aiming to maintain cognitive resilience as they age.