Playing an instrument helps the brain stay young

With age, the brain begins to work differently: in order to cope with ordinary cognitive tasks, it has to connect additional resources. This is manifested in the so—called “neural overactivation” – more active and costly brain activity in everyday situations, for example, when perceiving speech against a background of noise. Unfortunately, this requires more energy and reduces the overall effectiveness of thinking.

But it’s different for older musicians. The researchers compared three groups: elderly musicians, elderly non-musicians, and young people. They needed to recognize syllables drowned out by noise. And it turned out that the brains of older musicians work in almost the same way as those of young ones — without unnecessary stress and overexertion. Their brain networks maintained a “young” pattern of connections, in contrast to what was observed in non-musicians.

This effect is explained by the theory of the “cognitive reserve” — a reserve of brain resources that is formed during life under the influence of intellectual activity. Music, as one of the most powerful forms of such activity, helps to form a stable architecture of neural connections that does not collapse with age, but preserves clarity of thinking, attention and perception.

What is especially important: music lessons not only compensate for age-related changes, but also literally slow down their development. It’s not just replacing a function, it’s keeping it at a high level. Scientists call this effect “Hold-Back Upregulation” — the containment of age-related neural hyperactivation due to intellectual reserve.

Music acts as a brain simulator. It improves auditory memory, coordination, concentration, develops connections between the hemispheres of the brain and helps to process information faster. Unsurprisingly, older musicians have fewer problems with speech, attention, and cognitive overload.

The authors of the study emphasize: it’s never too late to start. Even if you haven’t played before, mastering a musical instrument in adulthood can yield tangible results. This is not only the joy of creativity, but also a powerful prevention of age-related brain changes. Guitar, piano, violin, or even singing all work to benefit your mindset.

These results open up prospects for new programs aimed at preserving cognitive health in the elderly. Perhaps in the future, music will become part of the prevention of dementia and age-related cognitive disorders. After all, it is not just a sound, but a training of neural networks, the development of plasticity and a way to maintain mental clarity for many years to come.