{"id":25394,"date":"2025-06-24T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/?p=25394"},"modified":"2025-06-13T07:08:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T11:08:53","slug":"can-music-be-preventative-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/2025\/06\/can-music-be-preventative-medicine.html","title":{"rendered":"Can Music Be Preventative Medicine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Most of us think of music as something to enjoy\u2014but did you know it might help protect your brain? While the science is still unfolding, research is showing that music might do more than lift your mood. It may support your brain health at every stage of life.<\/p>\n

Music Boosts Brain Power<\/strong><\/p>\n

Listening to or making music lights up your brain. It helps with memory, attention, and planning\u2014especially as we age. One study found that older adults who were musically trained had better mental flexibility and verbal skills. And here\u2019s the good news: you don\u2019t have to play an instrument to get the benefits.<\/p>\n

Just\u00a0listening to music you love\u2014especially familiar or meaningful tunes\u2014can activate your brain\u2019s reward system. That\u2019s the same area tied to motivation and joy. It\u2019s like giving your brain a workout while you relax.<\/p>\n

Music and Brain Diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was growing up, my mother played piano for our church and her mother, \u00a0my grandmother, was a pastor\u2019s wife. Church music was woven into the fabric of our family life. Years later, when my grandmother developed Alzheimer\u2019s, something incredible happened. Even as her memory faded, she could still sing along to the old hymns my mom played at the nursing home. Despite the way Alzheimer\u2019s disrupts the brain\u2019s natural rhythms, music can unlocked memories we thought were lost. In fact, research shows that personalized playlists can help people with Alzheimer\u2019s recall memories and experience emotional uplift. That\u2019s because music activates the areas of the brain responsible for sound, memory, and emotion\u2014all at once.<\/p>\n

For people with\u00a0Parkinson\u2019s disease, music with a steady beat\u2014like a metronome or rhythmic playlist\u2014can improve walking, coordination, and even mood. One study used a music app to help patients walk more smoothly and feel better emotionally.<\/p>\n

Playing Music Keeps You Sharp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Picking up an instrument might be one of the best things you can do for your brain. A large study found that older adults who played instruments scored higher on tests of executive function (like problem-solving and memory). Woodwind players had some of the strongest results, but piano and keyboard players also saw big benefits in memory and motor skills.<\/p>\n

Singing Together Strengthens the Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thinking about joining a choir? There\u2019s science to back it up! Group singing strengthens connections in the brain\u2014especially in areas tied to language, emotion, and social connection. In fact, singing in a group can lead to changes in brain structure that help with communication and mood.<\/p>\n

After a stroke, singing with others has been shown to improve speech, social connection, and even reduce depression. The rhythm, repetition, and joy of making music together help bring people back to life.<\/p>\n

Music isn\u2019t just background noise\u2014it\u2019s a powerful, low-cost tool for better brain health. Whether you’re listening, playing, or singing with others, music can boost memory, lift your mood, and keep your mind sharp. So go ahead\u2014turn up the volume. Your brain will thank you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most of us think of music as something to enjoy\u2014but did you know it might help protect your brain? While the science is still unfolding, research is showing that music might do more than lift your mood. It may support your brain health at every stage of life. Music Boosts Brain Power Listening to or…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[2959,87,8996,2767,9008,9005,8999,9002],"class_list":["post-25394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","tag-brain-health","tag-music","tag-music-and-health","tag-music-and-memory","tag-music-and-mood","tag-music-and-the-brain","tag-music-prevention","tag-preventative-medicine"],"yoast_head":"\nCan Music Be Preventative Medicine?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Music is often seen as a source of enjoyment\u2014but emerging research suggests it might also serve as a form of preventative medicine.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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