The surprising link: How listening to music can lower your dementia risk by 39 pc

Now, being hooked on music can not just soothe your mind but can also save you from dementia. Yes, you read that right.

A recent study studied whether engagement in music-related leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. The study looked at data from more than 10,800 adults who were above the age of 70. It was found that always listening to music, compared with never/rarely/sometimes, was associated with a 39 per cent decreased risk of dementia and a 17 per cent decreased risk of cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND).

The research also highlighted that playing an instrument was associated with a 35 per cent reduced dementia risk, but no significant association with CIND risk or changes in cognitive test scores over time. Apart from this, regularly engaging in both music listening and playing was associated with a 33 per cent decreased risk of dementia and 22 per cent decreased risk of cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND).

What is dementia?

As per the Cleveland Clinic, dementia is a general term that represents a group of diseases and illnesses that affect the thinking, memory, reasoning, personality, mood and behavior of an individual. The decline in mental function interferes with your daily life and activities. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of dementia

According to the World Health Organization, early signs of dementia are forgetting things or recent events, losing or misplacing things, getting lost when walking or driving, being confused, even in familiar places, losing track of time, difficulties solving problems or making decisions, problems following conversations or trouble finding words, difficulties performing familiar tasks, and misjudging distances to objects visually.

A change in behaviour can also be noted, with patients showing withdrawal from work or social activities, and being less interested in other people’s emotions.