Over-70s With This Hobby May Be 39% Less Likely To Develop Dementia

Man listening to musicNot only are hobbies great for your mental health, but researchers and neuroscientists increasingly think they might help to protect your brain as you age too. Take reading, for instance.Some research suggests that reading twice a week or more can lead to decreased cognitive impairment, while neurologist and author of How To Prevent Dementia, Dr Richard Restak, said: “Reading for pleasure is perhaps the single most effective activity you can engage in for increasing cognitive reserve”.And now, a new study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry has linked listening to music to a significantly decreased rate of dementia among over-70s. Why might listening to music decrease dementia risk?In this study, scientists looked at 10,893 Australian participants who were aged 70 and older. None of them had dementia when the study began.The researchers used Cox proportional hazard regression models to work out whether participants’ levels of music engagement (be it listening to music, playing an instrument, or a combination of both) seemed to be linked to their dementia risk from year three of the sudy onwards.They found that “always” listening to music was associated with a 39% lower risk of developing dementia among their participants, compared to those who “never,” “rarely,” or “sometimes” did.Playing an instrument was linked to 35% less risk, meanwhile, and those who both played an instrument and listened to music appeared to be 33% less likely to develop the condition too. Listening to, and playing, music (as well as doing both) was also linked to less cognitive impairment in this study. These findings seemed to be stronger among participants who’d had over 16 years of education. “These results highlight music as a potential promising, accessible strategy to help reduce cognitive impairment and delay the onset of dementia in later life,” the paper reads. Does this definitely mean listening to music will prevent dementia? No. It only found a link, and not a cause – we can’t say from this data that listening to music is the reason people with the hobby were less likely to develop dementia.Study senior author Professor Joanne Ryan, however, said: “With no cure currently available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay onset of the disease is critical.“Evidence suggests that brain ageing is not just based on age and genetics but can be influenced by one’s own environmental and lifestyle choices.”She continued: “Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music can promote cognitive health.” Related...Here's When 'Restless' Sleep Can Be A Dementia 'Warning Sign'Scientists Think These Brain Changes May Link Insomnia To DementiaThis Much Reading May Reduce Dementia Risk

Comments

Breaking news

Mysterious ‘flaming green ball’ spotted above Moscow – what was it?

Metro

US agent’s daring plot to coax Nicolas Maduro’s pilot into turning on the Venezuelan leader and delivering him into custody

about 2 hours ago

Six killed in protests over re-election of world’s oldest president as Cameroon opposition rejects results

Independent

Comments

Similar News

TV adverts over-represent black people and ignore over-70s, study finds

Spain tries to lure back Brits with new travel rules for over-70s

Breaking news

Mysterious ‘flaming green ball’ spotted above Moscow – what was it?

The once-thriving holiday hotels left abandoned and frozen in time by war

‘We nearly crashed on a bend’ How car headlights are ‘blinding’ drivers at night

Donald Trump busts out his signature dance moves during bizarre appearance in Japan

Lily Allen Insists New Release West End Girl Is Not A 'Revenge' Album

Why Did Starmer Agree To A New Deal With Turkey Despite Concerns Over Russian Oil?

Google promotes fake content to millions on Discover news platform

The reason why growing numbers of young Americans don’t want children

Huge online candy retailer files for bankruptcy just ahead of Halloween and the holiday season

Dropping the bone: KFC looks to regain its footing with revamped menu focusing on sandwiches and less on classics

Thousands of dead cranes litter cherished European birdwatching spot

Former Paddy Power boss calls for gambling tax hikes to deter harmful betting

US agent’s daring plot to coax Nicolas Maduro’s pilot into turning on the Venezuelan leader and delivering him into custody

Six killed in protests over re-election of world’s oldest president as Cameroon opposition rejects results

12 people rescued after power went out on an amusement ride leaving them hanging 30 feet in the air

Lindsey Vonn says she has 'nothing to prove' as she prepares to return to the Olympics

Hurricane Melissa: British nationals in Jamaica told to register presence as ‘storm of century’ closes in

Drivers in London hit by almost ten million fines over past year

Teenager jailed for playing anti-Kremlin song on the streets of St Petersburg

Trump’s late-night appeal argues why his 34-count felony conviction should be thrown out

Pregnant British teen may get 2-years in Georgia prison for drug smuggling after plea deal

Wily fox defies Parliament security to prowl Westminster estate

Inside the investigation to find brazen thieves behind Louvre heist

MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell rages at ‘deranged’ CNN for employing ‘rabid, lying Trump supporter’ Scott Jennings

Six things every new tenant should do as Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law

Pressure builds on Prince Andrew to vacate mansion he rents for the nominal sum of a peppercorn

Reform plans to ‘dramatically’ cut civil service numbers if elected despite lack of government experience

Dutch election campaign in final stretch as Geert Wilders seeks second victory

Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup

US kills 14 as it strikes three ‘drug boats’ in the Pacific in latest attack, Pete Hegseth says

Triple stabbing leaves one dead and two injured in ‘senseless act of violence’

New study of fossilized bones rewrites history of early human ancestors

PHOTO ESSAY: Chicago's children are getting caught in the chaos of immigration crackdowns

OpenAI says it has new for-profit business structure, adjusts partnership with Microsoft

The Latest: Air strikes, ICE crackdown and shutdown continue with Trump in Asia

Elon Musk launches Grokipedia to compete with online encyclopedia Wikipedia

Consumer confidence dips modestly in October with Americans concerned about the future

Magners maker C&C says challenging conditions set to ‘persist’

Riley Gaines and AOC’s feud grows with personal attacks, debate offers and calls to ‘get a real job’

Hegseth says US carried out 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific, killing 14

Biden’s autopen pardons are null and void due to ‘mental decline’, House Oversight Committee says

Stragglers from Myanmar scam center raided by army cross into Thailand as buildings are blown up

Lawmakers move to extend Russia's compulsory military draft to a year-round process

Jeremy Corbyn Will Be Taking To The Stage With A Very Unexpected Role This Winter

Fresh Reform UK Row As MP Warns Against 'LGBT-Supporting' Political Alliances

ChatBlu launch: Two twenty-year-old founders want inventory to run itself

William ‘threatened to remove Beatrice and Eugenie’s titles if Andrew didn’t leave Royal Lodge’

Could interstellar object 31-ATLAS have ‘slammed on brakes in black swan event’?

Polish prosecutors seek charges against ex-justice minister for misuse of funds

Teacher struck off after asking girl to wear uniform for sex

Dodgers produce 18-inning World Series sequel, `The Late, Late Sho'

Storm chasers fly inside Hurricane Melissa’s eye in incredible footage

French senators say security at the Louvre is 'not in line' with modern standards and demand action

‘We achieved our goal’: Canadian leader defends the use of Reagan ad that upset Trump

Trump who has long promoted America First tells US troops to buy Japanese-made Toyota cars

A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

Trump hails Japan’s ‘great’ new female PM Sanae Takaichi as he seals tariffs and rare earths deal

Short-sellers set to be kept anonymous under disclosure rule change plans

Pope urges Catholic teachers to focus less on professional outcomes, more on spiritual lives

Takeaways from AP's report on a U.S. plot to recruit Maduro's pilot to betray Venezuelan leader