Listening to Music Has a Surprising Impact on Dementia Risk, Study Shows

Listening to music into old age could reduce the risk of dementia by almost 40 percent, a new study has found.

It's based on data from 10,893 Australians aged 70 or older, who, at the time of recruitment, were living in retirement communities and had no diagnosis of dementia. They were asked about their music listening habits and whether they played an instrument.

Folks who "always" listened to music (as opposed to never, rarely, or sometimes listeners) were 39 percent less likely to develop dementia after at least three years of follow-up, and were 17 percent less likely to develop milder forms of cognitive impairments. They also performed better on tests of general cognition and episodic memory , which is important for recalling everyday events.

Those who were regularly picking up