Learning to play a musical instrument may do far more than bring joy — it could actually protect your brain from aging. A joint study from Canada and China found that older adults with years of musical training had sharper minds and stronger listening skills than those who never picked up an instrument.
Musicians in their 60s were better at understanding speech in noisy places, like busy restaurants, and their brains worked more efficiently, resembling those of much younger people. Instead of needing extra effort to focus, their “cognitive reserve” — a kind of backup system built through practice — helped keep their minds sharp. This reserve comes from years of strengthening the brain’s networks that handle hearing, movement, and speech.
Interestingly, the study showed you don’t need to be a professional. Practicing an instrument for around 12 hours a week, regardless of skill level, can help the brain stay youthful.
Other research from Japan even suggests it’s never too late to start — seniors who learned music in their 70s showed better memory years later. Scientists believe these findings could inspire new brain-boosting therapies, showing that playing music may be one of the best lifelong defenses against cognitive decline.
