Music Listening Tied to 39% Lower Dementia Risk in Seniors

New research suggests that keeping your favorite songs on repeat might do more than lift your mood — it could also lower your risk of dementia later in life. A large Australian study found strong links between regular music engagement and better cognitive outcomes among people aged 70 and older.

Study details and headline findings

The analysis tracked 10,893 Australians living in retirement communities who had no dementia diagnosis at the start. Participants reported how often they listened to music and whether they played an instrument. After at least three years of follow-up, those who said they "always" listened to music were 39 percent less likely to develop dementia compared with never, rarely or sometimes listeners. They were also 17 percent less likely to develop milder cognitive impairments.

Beyond risk reduction, frequent listeners scored higher on tests of general cognition and episodic memory — the kind of memory used to recall everyday events and personal experiences. Playing an instrument was also linked to protective effects: people who regularly made music were 35 percent less likely to develop dementia, although that benefit did not extend to other forms of cognitive impairment in this study.

When combined, listening and playing music showed a 33 percent reduced dementia risk and a 22 percent lower risk for other cognitive issues. The researchers also observed that education influenced results: benefits were strongest in people with 16 or more years of schooling, and were inconsistent for those in the middle education bracket (12–15 years).

Emma Jaffa, the paper's lead author and a public health researcher at Monash University, noted that while the associations are encouraging, the study cannot prove causation. "Music activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, though causation cannot be established," she said.

How music may support brain health

There are several plausible mechanisms for a protective effect. Listening to music activates widespread brain networks involved in attention, memory, emotion and sensory processing. Joanne Ryan, a neuropsychiatric epidemiologist and senior author on the paper, told radio audiences that this broad activation provides cognitive stimulation that could help reduce dementia risk.

Hearing health likely plays a role as well. Hearing loss is a known risk factor for dementia, and other research shows that timely use of hearing aids can slow cognitive decline. So, maintaining good auditory function and engaging with music may work together to preserve cognition.

These findings add to a growing body of evidence linking music and brain health. They suggest accessible, low-cost activities — from listening playlists to playing an instrument — could be part of a broader approach to healthy aging, alongside exercise, social engagement and managing cardiovascular risk factors.

Practical takeaways

• Regularly listening to music in later life was associated with substantially lower dementia risk in this large cohort.
• Playing an instrument also correlated with lower dementia risk, though effects on milder cognitive impairment varied.
• Hearing care and cognitive stimulation are complementary — consider hearing checks and hearing aids if needed.

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