The associations between playing a musical instrument and grey matter in older adults at risk for dementia: a whole-brain VBM analysis

While research suggests that playing musical instruments promotes neuroplasticity in professional musicians, it remains unclear whether lifelong music experience benefits brain health in non-professional musicians. This study examined whether playing a musical instrument across the lifespan is associated with (a) altered grey matter (GM) density and (b) neuropsychological functioning in older adults at risk for dementia. Sixty-one individuals aged ≥ 50 years were recruited from a memory clinic. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological assessment from which composite scores for learning, memory, and executive functioning were derived. Based on musical history, participants were classified as: active players (n = 15), former players (n = 20), and naïve (n = 26). Voxel-based morphometry analyses, correcting for age and total intracranial volume, assessed GM density differences. General linear models, controlling for age, tested associations between music experience and cognition. Active players showed increased GM density in the left planum temporale (p < 0.0001), left planum polare (p < 0.0001), right posterior insula (p < 0.0001), and left cerebellum exterior (p < 0.0001) compared to the naïve group. They also showed increased GM in the left cerebellum exterior (p < 0.0001) relative to former players. No GM differences were observed between former players and naïve individuals. Music experience was not significantly associated with neuropsychological performance. In older adults at risk for dementia, currently playing a musical instrument was associated with increased GM density in regions linked with musical training. Further research is needed to explore music’s role in brain health and dementia prevention.