Can your favorite playlist do more than lift your mood?
Could listening to music actually help protect your brain as you age?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, I sat down with Professor Joanne Ryan, a dementia researcher at Monash University, to explore what the latest science says about music, cognition, and healthy brain aging.
Her team’s research, drawing on thousands of participants from the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP), found that older adults who engaged more frequently with music—including listening to music and playing a musical instrument—had a lower risk of dementia and better cognitive outcomes over time.
But does that mean listening to music prevents dementia?
Not necessarily—and that’s one of the most important parts of our conversation.
Watch or Listen to the Episode
In This Episode
Professor Ryan explains:
*Whether listening to music may help lower the risk of dementia
*How playing a musical instrument may influence brain health
*The biological and cognitive mechanisms researchers think could explain music’s effects
*Why many people living with dementia can still recognize, remember, and even perform music
*Whether certain genres or types of music appear to be more beneficial than others
*Why observational studies can identify associations—but cannot prove cause and effect.
Why Music Is Such an Interesting Area of Dementia Research
Unlike medications or medical procedures, music is something many of us already enjoy.
Researchers are increasingly interested in lifestyle factors that may help promote healthy brain aging, including physical activity, sleep, diet, social engagement, lifelong learning—and now, music.
While the findings are encouraging, Professor Ryan explains why it’s important not to overstate them. People who engage frequently with music may also differ in other important ways that influence brain health. Untangling those relationships is one of the ongoing challenges in dementia research.
In other words, the current evidence is promising—but it’s not the final word.
About Professor Joanne Ryan
Professor Joanne Ryan is a Principal Research Fellow and leads the Biological Neuropsychiatry and Dementia Research Team at Monash University in Australia.
Her research focuses on understanding the causes, prevention, and early detection of dementia, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Her team investigates biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors that influence brain health while working to identify strategies that may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and improve healthy aging.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you’ve ever wondered whether your favorite songs are doing more than simply entertaining you, this episode offers an evidence-based look at one of the most fascinating areas of healthy aging research.
Tune in to hear what the science says—and just as importantly, what it doesn’t yet know.
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Also catch the episode, What Makes You, You, with Dr. Masad Husain. It’s a great mix of science and storytelling that I think you’ll enjoy.
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