Khaberni - Experts indicate that maintaining brain activity through activities such as reading, solving puzzles, and learning new skills is usually associated with reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia as one ages.
However, according to neurology specialists, music remains one of the most effective means to stimulate the brain, especially when the interaction with it is not limited to passive listening but includes active interaction such as singing, playing instruments, or dancing.
Neurologist Baibing Chen, in a video on the "TikTok" platform, explained that the real benefit of music does not come from listening alone, saying if that were enough, "everyone who listens to music would be a genius."
He clarified that active listening or interacting with music is the most important factor, as singing, playing an instrument, or dancing activates multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, enhancing neural connections and increasing "brain plasticity," or its ability to adapt and change.
He added that studies suggest that musical training may leave structural changes in the brain, such as strengthening the connections between the brain hemispheres, and improving working memory and auditory processing in trainees.
At the same time, he emphasized that benefiting from music does not necessarily require mastering it, but can be achieved through making it an interactive activity, such as learning a new musical instrument or participating in choral singing or dancing to complex rhythms.
He warned that passive listening to music while busy with other things, such as using the phone or driving, does not achieve the same effect, as it does not require any significant mental effort.
These recommendations are based on a study published in the journal NeuroImage: Reports, which researched the impact of musical training on the elderly.
The study included 132 retirees aged between 62 and 78 years, who participated in a six-month training program that included learning to play the piano and developing musical awareness.
The results showed that the participants experienced an improvement in brain flexibility and an increase in gray matter volume, alongside an improvement in working memory performance by nearly 6%.
The researchers concluded that regular musical training might contribute to supporting brain health in later stages of life, through enhancing its ability to adapt and reorganize.
