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RESEARCH PAPER / 2025-01-10

The impact of music experience on hippocampal subfields and cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia.

Nicole Espinosa, Hannes Almgren, Andrew C McKinnon, Sharon L Naismith

University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia · pubmed

Abstract

It has been argued that engaging in musical activities throughout one's lifespan can promote neuroplasticity and protect against age‐related cognitive decline. Most of the research on this topic has been performed on professional musicians; however, general music experience across the lifespan may also have a protective effect on cognitive performance and brain health in non‐professional musicians. This study investigates the effects of lifetime music experience on hippocampal subfield grey matter (GM) volumes and memory and executive functioning in older adults at risk of dementia.

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

The paper investigates the relationship between music experience and cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia, which touches on cognitive decline associated with aging. While it explores an interesting aspect of neuroplasticity and its potential protective effects, it does not address the root causes of aging or propose mechanisms for lifespan extension. The findings may contribute to understanding cognitive health in older adults, but the overall impact on the field of longevity research is limited.

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