Alright, so there was this study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry that decided to follow around more than 1,100 adults over 40 years old. I mean, these adults had an average age of 68, so they were no spring chickens, you know? The researchers wanted to see which hobbies really gave their brains a workout.
So, they compared the folks who were all about music — whether they were singing, jamming on an instrument, or just chilling with some tunes — to those who weren’t really into music at all. And guess what? The results showed that the people who had been music enthusiasts their whole lives totally crushed it on memory tests, problem-solving challenges, and how quickly they could process information. Pretty cool, right?
The researchers found that playing keyboard instruments seemed to have the biggest impact on memory and executive function. And get this, even playing brass and woodwind instruments or singing had some positive effects on memory and completing complex tasks. It’s like music is a secret weapon against cognitive decline or something. Who would’ve thought?
