A post entitled “Aging Musicians Have Sharp Brains” on Futurity.org explains that playing a musical instrument may help fight cognitive decline in our later years. Starting to study music while young and continuing for many years seems to have the greatest positive effect. Click here to read more.
But there also can be positive cognitive effects if we start playing when we’re older. We now know that we can help maintain and enhance “brain plasticity” (the brain’s ability to change itself with learning) by giving the brain mental challenges. Learning a musical instrument would certainly do that — and it’s fun!
