It’s no secret that playing an instrument is a great way to keep your brain active. But did you know that it can also help protect against cognitive decline as you age? A recent study published in the journal Neurology found that musicians had a slower rate of cognitive decline than non-musicians. Researchers believe that this is due to the fact that musicians have more gray matter in their brains.
Keep Your Mind Sharp
So, if you’re looking for a way to keep your mind sharp as you age, learning an instrument may be a good option. Not only will you get to enjoy making music, but you’ll also be giving your brain a workout. The best part is that it’s never too late to start. Moreover, the researchers found that the musicians had more gray matter in their brains, which is responsible for processing information. This extra gray matter allows them to better process information and makes them less likely to experience cognitive decline.
Improve Your Memory
Playing an instrument can also help improve your memory and cognitive skills. The researchers believe that this is because playing an instrument requires you to remember a lot of information. This extra mental stimulation can help improve your memory. For instance, playing the saxophone can help improve your working memory, which is the type of memory that you use to remember the information at the moment.
Also, while playing an instrument, you have to remember the notes, melodies, and harmonies while also being aware of what your fingers are doing. All of this helps keep your mind sharp and can improve your memory.
Help With Dementia
In addition to protecting against cognitive decline, playing an instrument can also help with dementia. A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that people who played an instrument for at least ten years were less likely to develop dementia. The researchers believe that this is because playing an instrument requires a lot of mental stimulation, which helps keep the brain active and healthy. Namely, it helps with the formation of new neural connections.
Additionally, playing an instrument can also help reduce stress and anxiety, which are two major risk factors for dementia. So, if you’re looking for a way to keep your mind healthy and sharp, learning an instrument is a great option.
Give Your Brain A Workout
Playing an instrument is a great way to give your brain a workout. The next time you’re looking for a way to improve your cognitive skills, try picking up an instrument and give it a go. Namely, here are three brain benefits when playing a musical instrument:
- it helps with the formation of new neural connections;
- you have to remember a lot of information, such as notes, rhythms, and melodies;
- It puts your cognitive skills to good use. All of this helps keep your mind sharp and can improve your memory.
The best time to start playing an instrument is before the age of 7, but it’s never too late to get started. Namely, if you decide to start playing the piano at an older age, you are still reaping the benefits that come with it. For instance, people who started playing the piano at an older age had a slower rate of cognitive decline than those who didn’t play an instrument.
Playing An Instrument Might Approve Academic Achievements
It has been found that students who study a musical instrument have higher grades in academics than those who don’t. This is likely because playing an instrument requires discipline and concentration, which are two skills that are important for academic success. Also, learning to play an instrument can help improve your memory and cognitive skills, which can also lead to better grades.
Increase Discipline And Time-Management Skills
Playing an instrument requires discipline and concentration, which are two skills that are important for academic success. Also, learning to play an instrument can help improve your memory and cognitive skills. These same skills can also lead to better time-management skills. For instance, if you’re able to remember the notes, rhythms, and melodies of a song, you’re likely to be able to remember other important information as well.
Improve Your Patience
Playing an instrument can also help improve your patience. This is because you have to practice regularly in order to get better at playing. And, as we all know, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll get, and the more patient you’ll become.
In conclusion, playing an instrument has many benefits, both for your mind and body. Namely, it can help improve your memory and cognitive skills, patience, and discipline. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your brainpower, pick up an instrument and give it a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it – and how smart it makes you!
