Playing or Enjoying Music May Help Protect Against Dementia

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A study of over 10,800 Australians age 70 and older found that people who always listened to music had a 39% lower risk of dementia, while those who often played an instrument had about a 35% lower risk
Those who engaged in both listening and playing music had a 33% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of cognitive impairment
Music activates multiple brain regions at once, including those tied to memory, movement, and emotion, making it especially useful for supporting recovery and preserving connections in dementia care
Enjoying music at an appropriate volume encourages regular listening, helping you incorporate joyful routines into your daily life
Joining a choir or playing an instrument also builds focus, coordination, and social connection. These factors may help keep your brain strong as you age

Transcript

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0:00.0	Is your daily soundtrack shaping your future memory?
0:03.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's Cellular Wisdom.
0:05.7	Stay informed with quick, easy to listen summaries of our latest articles,
0:09.6	perfect for when you're on the go.
0:11.1	No reading required.
0:12.4	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:16.5	Hello, and welcome to Dr. Mercola's Cellular Wisdom.
0:19.8	I'm Ethan Foster, and today we're looking at how simply listening to or playing music
0:24.5	may help you lower dementia risk and support sharper thinking as you age.
0:29.1	I'm Ethan Foster.
0:30.6	A large study of Australians age 70 and older links everyday music habits with meaningful reductions in dementia and cognitive impairment.
0:39.2	We're going to translate those numbers into a routine you can start now.
0:43.0	I'm Alara Sky. You'll hear how listening and playing engage multiple brain regions tied to
0:49.3	memory, movement, and emotion, why benefits show up on tests, even when you don't feel mentally sharper,
0:56.3	and how to build a calm, personalized practice you can sustain.
1:00.8	Let's start with the scale of the problem. In the U.S., about 7.2 million adults 65 and older
1:07.8	are living with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, and that number
1:13.4	may approach 14 million by 2060 if nothing changes. Healthcare costs are projected at $384 billion
1:21.2	in 2025, with unpaid family caregiving valued at over $400 billion, with no cure, lifestyle strategies
1:29.9	that delay symptoms matter.
1:31.9	The new data come from the Asprey and Alsop cohorts, which followed 10,893 Australians
1:39.1	who were dementia-free at enrollment. Researchers tracked how often people listened to music or played an
	...

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