Boost Your Brain Health with Art and Music
Maintaining brain health as we age depends on a number of factors, including genetics, nutrition and how active we are. Hobbies that involve the arts may play a powerful role as well. But you don’t have to be a famous painter or an accomplished musician to enjoy this benefit. Simply appreciating a work of art or piece of music has been shown to improve the brain's ability to change and adapt. By enjoying the arts, we can actually grow parts of our brain.
“Educators and developmental researchers have long known that exposure to fine arts, music and other creative endeavors creates denser neural networks and enhances brain development in children,” says
Kristin Bosc, PhD, a neuropsychologist at
Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic, part of the
Pat Walker Center for Seniors.
“But what has not been well recognized until recent years is that an aging brain is a developing brain too, and we can change the structure and functioning of our brains to not only maintain but also grow our abilities throughout our lives.”
As neuroscientists have studied processing and structure in living brains, it has become increasingly evident that new brain development and growth can occur at any age. Exposing your brain to a variety of experiences can help with this.
“The more sensory systems and cognitive abilities we engage, the denser our neural network connections grow, and the more reserve we build to protect against cognitive decline,” Bosc says. “Different forms of art, music and creative expression activate different sensory, motor and memory systems. For example, different parts of the brain involved in auditory and visual processing ‘light up’ when engaged in different types of activities, as do different motor systems.”
Because there are distinct brain circuits involved in different types of activities, music and art can provide alternate means of communication for those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. To illustrate this, Bosc relates an example of residents in a memory care facility. The residents may be limited in their ability to communicate, to recognize family members or even recall events from their own lives. “But if the activity director shows up with an old record player and starts to play ‘Bicycle Built for Two’ or some other song from their past, suddenly every resident in the room is singing every word and every verse,” she says.
To stay engaged in creative hobbies as we age, it may be necessary to adapt if difficulties occur with vision, hearing or motor skills. “We can use different mediums, larger print or sound amplifiers,” Bosc says. “We can also expand our view of what is considered artistic. Decorating cookies, arranging flowers, dancing, photography, scrap booking, writing memoirs, going to plays — these are all artistic endeavors.”
In addition to pursuing creative hobbies, Bosc says, other ways to support brain health and reduce your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease include:
Eating fresh, non-processed food when possible
Moving your body as much as you can
Finding activities to engage your brain, such as puzzles
Building friendships through social interaction
Finding art in everyday life
Learning something new
Sharing your wisdom
Bosc says you can incorporate many of these suggestions by inviting a friend to join you on a walk. “This of course provides physical exercise, which helps maintain brain health as well as mobility, but also engages perceptual and spatial abilities, visual memory, conversational and verbal skills as well as social interaction which is key to healthy brain aging,” she says. “Even better, walk with a friend at a craft fair or art museum.”
Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic offers primary care services for people 70 and older provided by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified physicians, neuropsychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and social workers. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic.