Richard Mansky1,2, Alex Marzel1,3, E John Orav4, Patricia O Chocano-Bedoya1,2, Patricia Grünheid1,2, Michèle Mattle1,2, Gregor Freystätter1,2, H B Stähelin5, Andreas Egli1,2, Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari6,7. 1. Department of Geriatrics and Aging Research, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 101, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Centre on Aging and Mobility, University Hospital Zurich and City Hospital Waid Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Teaching, Research and Development, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Department of Geriatrics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 6. Department of Geriatrics and Aging Research, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 101, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. Heike.Bischoff@usz.ch. 7. Centre on Aging and Mobility, University Hospital Zurich and City Hospital Waid Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Heike.Bischoff@usz.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Elucidating behavioral protective factors for cognitive decline and dementia can have a far-reaching impact. AIMS: To describe the association of present and past musical instrument playing with cognitive function in cognitively intact older adults. METHOD: A post hoc observational analysis of the Zurich Disability Prevention Trial. Past and present musical instrument playing was correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) using linear regression at baseline and mixed-model linear regression over 1 year. RESULTS: Two hundred community dwelling adults age 70 and older (mean age 77.7) were included. There were 48.5% (97/200) participants, who ever played a musical instrument; 35% (70/200) played in the past and 13.5% (27/200) played at present. At baseline, present players had a suggestively higher adjusted-MMSE than never players (28.9 vs. 28.5, p value 0.059). Over 12 months, compared to never players, ever players showed a significantly better improvement from baseline in adjusted-MMSE (0.29 vs. - 0.12, p value 0.007). The association remained significant even after restricting to participants without higher education (p value 0.03). Over time, no differences were observed for EQ-VAS (p value 0.45). However, past players had the largest decline in health-related quality of life at 12 months. DISCUSSION: The support for a protective association in our observational study suggests the need for clinical trials to examine the effect of playing a musical instrument on cognitive function and decline. Both returning to play after an interruption and learning to play from the beginning should be examined. CONCLUSIONS: Present and past musical instrument playing may assist in preserving cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
BACKGROUND: Elucidating behavioral protective factors for cognitive decline and dementia can have a far-reaching impact. AIMS: To describe the association of present and past musical instrument playing with cognitive function in cognitively intact older adults. METHOD: A post hoc observational analysis of the Zurich Disability Prevention Trial. Past and present musical instrument playing was correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) using linear regression at baseline and mixed-model linear regression over 1 year. RESULTS: Two hundred community dwelling adults age 70 and older (mean age 77.7) were included. There were 48.5% (97/200) participants, who ever played a musical instrument; 35% (70/200) played in the past and 13.5% (27/200) played at present. At baseline, present players had a suggestively higher adjusted-MMSE than never players (28.9 vs. 28.5, p value 0.059). Over 12 months, compared to never players, ever players showed a significantly better improvement from baseline in adjusted-MMSE (0.29 vs. - 0.12, p value 0.007). The association remained significant even after restricting to participants without higher education (p value 0.03). Over time, no differences were observed for EQ-VAS (p value 0.45). However, past players had the largest decline in health-related quality of life at 12 months. DISCUSSION: The support for a protective association in our observational study suggests the need for clinical trials to examine the effect of playing a musical instrument on cognitive function and decline. Both returning to play after an interruption and learning to play from the beginning should be examined. CONCLUSIONS: Present and past musical instrument playing may assist in preserving cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
Authors: Timothy P Morris; Meishan Ai; Laura Chaddock-Heyman; Edward McAuley; Charles H Hillman; Arthur F Kramer Journal: J Cogn Enhanc Date: 2021-03-17
Authors: Timothy P Morris; Laura Chaddock-Heyman; Meishan Ai; Sheeba Arnold Anteraper; Alfonso Nieto Castañon; Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli; Charles H Hillman; Edward McAuley; Arthur F Kramer Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 5.133