The magic of music for bettering overall health
When you hear an old favorite song that you haven’t heard in years, you likely find it easy to recall the words or melodies with little to no difficulty. It stirs the same emotions and can bring back a slew of memories with strong bonds to the music. Music boosts mood when we hear it, but it can also help support a healthy brain and healthy memory function throughout aging.
It’s not always easy to pinpoint why music makes us feel so good, but several studies have produced thorough research on why music is so good for overall health. Throw on a record or turn on the radio and read about how your current song choice is aiding in your health and well-being.
The calming factor
According to a recent AARP survey, music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression compared to people overall. Anxiety and depression can lead to suppressed immune systems and disrupted sleep, so these catchy tunes are aiding in more than just mood alone.
Music has also been known to have a calming effect on aging adults who have dementia as they feel comfortable with the familiarity of a favorite tune. Studies have shown that music may even reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues in those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Stimulating the brain
Actively listening to music stimulates the brain, but playing an instrument activates several additional parts of the brain. You don’t have to be a trained musician to reap these benefits. Even testing out piano keys or strumming a simple chord on a guitar can cause this effect in small amounts. These benefits will only increase if you decide to stick with it and play an instrument regularly.
Active musical engagement, including for those over age 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function in the same AARP study.
Boosting your mood
You don’t have to play an instrument to feel the uplifting quality of your favorite music. Music can bring any simple task to life, whether it be cleaning or cooking, or it can motivate us to continue with the hard stuff, like exercising. There is music for every occasion to perfectly fit your mood, whether it be slow music for calm nights or upbeat tunes for getting things done.
Many aging adults live alone or spend a good amount of time by themselves, and they can be more prone to developing feelings of loneliness. Playing an instrument is an engaging new hobby that can deliver a strong sense of achievement and joy while spending time alone.
And the happier we are, the healthier we are. According to Northwestern Medicine, a happy mood lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, lowers blood pressure, enables better sleep, improves your diet, and helps maintain your average body weight.
There’s a social aspect
Enjoying music together is an activity that can be happily shared by anyone – friends, family members, spouses or loved ones—getting out of the house to see a musical or to hear the orchestra can be a special event that leads to shared memories through music that you can carry on in life. When you hear those songs, you’ll bring back those memories and the happiness that came with them. Engaging in a social music event is the best way to wrap all of the above benefits into one.
Music has inspired and brought comfort to so many people throughout history, and its lasting impact on us is prevalent through memories. Now, through science, we know that it has lasting impacts on our health.
Visiting Angels caregivers are often thought of as trusted companions and confidants, and music can be just another great bonding activity for you to get to know each other better. Companion care services and a wide range of other types of in-home assistance are available from Visiting Angels White Plains across Westchester County for aging adults. Reach out today to learn more about the options that may improve your overall quality of life at (914) 696-4200.