Whether you tickle the ivories or pluck the strings of a guitar, playing a musical instrument is a long-valued form of creative expression. Research shows that learning to play an instrument can benefit the brain in many different ways—many of which can play a role in senior help. If you’re looking for a way to improve a senior’s cognitive abilities, here are a few reasons why music lessons are a great option.

3 Senior Help Benefits of Learning to Play an Instrument

1. Greater Alertness Reaction Time

Hitting specific notes in rapid succession is a skill that requires focused attention for lengthy periods. As such, musicians have been found to have higher levels of general alertness than non-musicians, likely due to their ability to recognize and respond to multisensory cues.

In terms of aging, this increased alertness is particularly beneficial. Since reaction times tend to slow down as people age, musical training can be a great way to fight against this effect and help seniors stay sharp.  

2. Boosts Memory

Although memory loss is not a normal part of aging, it can be a sign of dementia—a group of disorders that cause progressive loss of cognitive functions. Since this condition is estimated to impact as many as half of adults 85 or older, it’s critical for all seniors to explore ways to boost their memory. Playing an instrument may be one such solution.

If a person played the instrument when they were younger, picking up the skill later in life may also strengthen neural connections. These benefits are a few reasons why learning to play a musical instrument is associated with stronger nonverbal memory skills.  

3. Improves Sound Recognition

It’s estimated that about one-third of people between the ages of 65 and 74 have some form of hearing loss. Typically, this problem is due to decreased sensitivity in the ear and connections within the brain.

Playing and listening to music may help to prevent this problem. Specifically, those with a background in music are shown to have improved neural processing of sound. Compared to those without the skill, people who play instruments can better recognize auditory stimuli like sounds in a crowded environment or syllables in speech.

Placing a high priority on cognitive health, St. Charles Community offers a variety of services that can strengthen brain function in older individuals. Located in Covington, KY, this senior living center provides numerous activities designed to benefit overall health and wellness among residents. Visit this community online to learn more about their senior help resources or call (859) 331-3224 to schedule a tour.