Benefits of Music and Aging Healthy

When you start to think of Spring, you get excited about getting outside and maybe getting a little exercise. Spring seems to jump us into healthy habits and try to embrace the joy of healthy aging. However, what do we do to keep our minds healthy and happy? Listening to music can aid us in maintaining a healthy mind and attitude toward life. Truly to exercise the body, you go to a gym but to exercise your mind, just turn on the tunes!

5 Benefits of Music and Mindful, Healthy Aging

• Improves Memory–Letting your brain open up to the tunes can improve your memory at about any age. Music helps young kids recall math and connect to their schooling and also help the aging population reduce dementia. Not to mention the benefits of music with repetition of melody and lyrics helps our brain recall and recognize patterns and enhance your memory.  

• Lifts Your Mood–Have you ever listened to a song and jump to a memory and suddenly know every word and can retell a story that happened many years ago? Scientists have discovered that listening to music that makes you happy can cause the brain to release dopamine and allow you to feel happy and lift your mood. Music can allow us to feel many emotions from anger or sadness to happiness. These emotions can benefit our health and mental stability. 

• Reduces Stress and Anxiety–In a world where many look for a pill to reduce stress and anxiety, it is nice to know by listening to music, you can accomplish the same thing. Studies have shown the benefits of music and stress reduction. Immediately the body feels relief which is much faster when compared to medications. Sometimes you might need medications to help with anxiety and stress, but it is nice to know there are other alternatives. 

• Improves Cognition–As mentioned before, music improves memory. Listening to music can assist aging adults with Alzheimer’s disease to recall events and memories. Relaxing with music can make you communicate more and also lessen others symptoms of dementia.

• Eases Pain–Many patients who listen to music before and after surgical procedures have less pain. They tend to relax and heal faster than those who do not listen to music.  Music can serve as a distraction for you so you do not get anxious and can unwind and heal from procedures. Also, it is just relaxing for the mind to unwind and not get worked up while getting procedures done.

The effects of music on the aging population is very beneficial to age gracefully and positively. Not only is it fun to listen to your favorite tunes, but it benefits the brain and body in ways that are just fantastic. Why not storm into March with a song in your step and be a little healthier. Need suggestions for your aging parents or loved ones? Contact Ann at Senior Living Options for the latest on aging trends. She is a resource to help you with the next steps of living and aging gracefully.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.