This Activity Lets You Age Healthy According to Science!

Researchers from the University of Geneva conducted an experiment on healthy elderly people to measure the effect of musical activities on cognitive abilities. Explanations!

Throughout life, the brain undergoes a series of changes, an evolution dependent on our experiences, learning new skills or our environment. With age, cognitive performance is increasingly affected, particularly due to a loss of cerebral plasticity and a decrease in the volume of gray matter (where neurons reside). This is called “cerebral atrophy”. But is it possible to slow down the aging process of the brain? This is the question that a team of researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), HES-So Jennifer and EPFL has taken care of. According to their research, musical activities – whether it’s exercise or active listening – can delay cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

The benefits of music on cognitive abilities

To reach these conclusions, the scientists followed for six months 132 retirees between the ages of 62 and 78 who had not been exposed to music before. Two groups were formed: the first had to follow weekly piano lessons for one hour while doing personal work at home for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The activity of the second group was to pursue more theoretical music lessons, where they were asked, for example, to learn about musical instruments. Published in the newspaper Neuroimaging reportsThis study confirmed the benefits of music on cognitive abilities, including memory.

Musical interventions for older adults may slow brain aging

“After six months, we found combined effects between the two interventions. Neuroimaging revealed, in all participants, an increase in gray matter in four brain regions involved in higher-level cognitive performance, particularly in areas of the cerebellum that are mobilized in working memory. Their performance increased. 6%, and this result was directly related to the flexibility of the cerebellum.Clara James, one of the study’s authors, said in a press release:

Even if the results obtained warrant further study, particularly due to the limited number of participants, the conclusions drawn by the researchers remain very encouraging and should allow public authorities to study music more widely in the prevention of cognitive decline. Musical interventions cannot rejuvenate the brain but only slow down the aging of some of its regions.Nuance, however, director Damien Marie.