Science & Research

Below are a handful of exciting articles, research studies, TED talks and books discussing healthy ageing, and music and the brain. Click on the images to find out more:

How Playing An Instrument Benefits Your Brain

Ted-ED Lesson - July 2014

When you listen to music, several parts of your brain spark to life. But when you play an instrument, that activity transforms into something much more powerful—almost like a full-scale workout for your entire brain. Why does this happen?

Award-winning educator, researcher, and writer Dr. Anita Collins breaks down the incredible neural “fireworks” that ignite in musicians’ brains as they play. She also explores the long-term, positive effects this intense mental training can have on memory, learning, and overall cognitive health.

According to UK researchers, playing a musical instrument or singing may help keep the brain healthy as we age. Their study suggests that practising and reading music can support strong memory and the ability to tackle complex problems. In their report, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the researchers recommend including music as part of a broader lifestyle approach to maintaining brain health.

By the age of 88, most people assume their exam-taking days are far behind them. But for Ray Eveleigh, a retired reverend from the village of Kilham in East Yorkshire, the challenge of sitting his Grade 8 piano exam was too tempting to resist. He ended up passing with distinction—an impressive 67 years after completing his Grade 7. Ray says playing the piano helps keep his mind sharp, and it was the encouragement of his wife and daughter that inspired him to pursue the Grade 8 exam.

Are you too old to learn to play an instrument? Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones has discovered the joy and the practical benefits of music and of learning a musical instrument as a senior – mentally, physically, and emotionally.

More people are reaching their eighties today than ever before. In The Changing Mind, neuroscientist, psychologist, and bestselling author Daniel Levitin urges us to rethink what it means to grow older, highlighting the many cognitive strengths that emerge later in life. Drawing on cutting-edge research, he challenges widespread misconceptions—such as the inevitability of memory decline and the emphasis on lifespan rather than “healthspan.”

Levitin explores how the brain continues to develop from childhood through old age, distilling insights from more than 4,000 scientific papers. He explains how personality, lifestyle, memory, and social connection all shape the ageing process and offers practical, science-backed strategies that anyone can begin using at any stage of life

“If you're planning to age, read this book. Wise, sensitive, and insightful, Levitin shares the tools that allow you to optimize the process” - David Eagleman, author of 'The Brain'

“Comprehensive and fascinating insight into the evolving human brain. This book could change your life” - Professor Stephen Westaby, author of 'Fragile Lives'