Overview
- A Monash University–led analysis of 10,893 Australians in the ASPREE and ALSOP cohorts found a 39% lower dementia risk among those who always listened to music compared with infrequent listeners.
- Regularly playing a musical instrument was linked to an approximately 35% reduction in dementia risk in the same older cohort.
- Engaging in both listening and playing was associated with a 33% lower likelihood of dementia and a 22% lower likelihood of cognitive impairment.
- Frequent listeners showed a 17% lower rate of cognitive impairment, along with stronger overall cognition and everyday recall scores.
- Authors emphasize the observational design, self-reported music habits, potential reverse causation, and cohort differences, noting global dementia burden is large, with WHO estimating about 57 million people affected.