Keeping the Brain Young Musical training involves many different cognitive, sensory, and motor processes. Thus, it’s not surprising that playing a musical instrument is associated with improved cognitive abilities as well as changes in brain structure and function (Zatorre, 2013). Could musical experience over the lifespan also be associated with better cognitive functioning in old age? Brenda Hanna-Pladdy and Alicia MacKay (2011) found that it was. In healthy adults aged 60 to 83, years of active musical participation was directly correlated with better cognitive functioning.

AP Photo/The Juneau Empire, Michael Penn