Turns out, Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300-year-old masterpieces might do more than just soothe the soul — they’re helping scientists understand how aging brains adapt to remember.
A new study from Aarhus University and the University of Oxford scanned the brains of younger adults (18–25) and older adults (60+) as they listened to familiar Bach piano pieces, revealing fascinating insights into how our brains change with age.
Adapting to age
The study found that older adults can remember music just as well as their younger counterparts, but with a catch: their brains are working harder in certain areas. Specifically, sensory-related regions of the brain in older individuals become extra active to compensate for reduced responses from memory-related regions. Lead researcher Professor Leonardo Bonetti explains that while aging is often associated with cognitive decline, the brain also adapts, relying on alternative mechanisms to preserve function.
Interestingly, when presented with unfamiliar versions of the music, older adults showed reduced activity in the brain areas typically involved in memory processes, while sensory-related regions stayed just as active. This could explain why older people sometimes struggle with change or processing new information—their brains aren’t as responsive to novel stimuli.
Preventing dementia?
The researchers hope these findings will eventually help identify biomarkers for dementia. By expanding the study to include participants with mild dementia, the team aims to predict how changes in brain functionality could indicate an increased risk of developing the condition. Music, particularly classical compositions with strong harmonies and clear structures like Bach’s, is seen as an ideal tool for studying brain function over time because it is intuitively memorable.
Not the first time music has helped
This isn’t the first time researchers have used music to study brain function. Previous studies have shown that music can trigger powerful memories, aid in language learning, and even improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. Music therapy is already used to stimulate the brains of people with dementia, and this new research adds to the growing body of evidence that music has a profound effect on memory and brain health.
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