You can experience better brain health through music since it stimulates memory and cognitive recall, reduces stress and supports emotional health, improves focus, attention, and mental processing, and supports brain plasticity and slows cognitive decline. Residents at The Palms at La Quinta can experience these benefits through our services and amenities.
According to The Conversation, 5-10% of people feel apathy toward music (music anhedonia). The fact that an overwhelming majority of people like and react to music shows just how powerful it can be.
For seniors in La Quinta, CA, music can have more benefits than they think. It can help immensely with brain health, and if they choose senior living at The Palms at La Quinta, it'll be easy to reap these benefits.
The Mozart Effect is something proposed back in the 1990s. It suggests that listening to Mozart can temporarily boost spatial reasoning skills in college students.
However, there's no strong evidence that listening to Mozart (or any music) causes long-term IQ increases. There may be short-term boosts in specific cognitive tasks, but this is more related to an improved mood and arousal.
With that said, music still has great benefits, no matter what age you are.
Older adults will want to do brain health activities to ensure that they keep cognitive decline at bay. Music can certainly help with that, and here's how.
Music has a powerful connection to memory, especially for seniors. You've probably experienced it before; you hear a familiar song from earlier decades, and vivid memories of people, locations, and life events flash in your head.
This happens because music activates multiple areas of the brain at once. This includes those responsible for:
When older adults listen or sing along to well-known songs in memory care, they're exercising these brain networks for great cognitive engagement. This keeps neural pathways active, and this can slow cognitive decline over time. In addition, music can improve attention and mental clarity.
Another beautiful thing about music is that even if words are difficult to find, seniors can use it as a bridge to communication.
When you're under chronic stress and have constant anxiety, this can affect:
Fortunately, music can help counteract this by lowering stress hormones and promoting relaxation. Calming music can therefore reduce feelings of:
When your brain is more relaxed, it can function more efficiently. In turn, this supports better focus, sleep, and emotional balance. In addition, music can stimulate the release of dopamine, which is a "feel-good" chemical.
With this kind of cognitive support, you'll protect your brain while improving mood stability. This can make daily life feel more enjoyable and manageable.
Whether you listen to music or actively participate in it, you can strengthen your attention span and mental processing speed. This is because music requires your brain to follow rhythm, melody, and lyrics at the same time, and that's a great mental workout!
After you've been doing structured musical activities for a while, you'll see a significant improvement in concentration. You'll be able to stay mentally present during tasks like:
Even if you only put on background music, this can increase motivation and reduce mental fatigue, which is helpful during routine activities.
Many people are surprised, but the brain has an amazing ability to adapt and reorganize itself, even in later years. This is called neuroplasticity, and music strongly supports this process since it activates many brain regions at once.
When you learn new songs, follow rhythms, or practice musical activities, your brain forms new connections and strengthens existing ones. This can help combat age-related cognitive decline and support recovery after strokes or other neurological challenges.
A study by de Witte et al. found that music therapy works for stress reduction. There are also other studies that show the effectiveness of such therapy, such as improvements in mood, reduced depression, and enhanced communication.
To support emotional, cognitive, and physical wellness, music therapists use:
What's great about music is that not only can it stimulate memory recall, but it can also help with emotional expression. Rhythmic movement for memory can also help improve motor skills and gait. Best of all is that it's a cost-effective and enjoyable tool.
Listening to music all day can be healthy if you do it mindfully. As we've said before, it can reduce stress, lift your mood, and stimulate memory. Plus, it can enhance focus, making it great for school and work.
Do note that continuous listening (especially at high volumes) may lead to hearing strain or reduced opportunities for quiet rest and conversation. The key is balance; you should mix music with periods of silence, social interaction, and physical activity. You can also choose different genres for different activities, such as calming ones during relaxation and more upbeat tempos for exercise or chores.
World Population Review reports that the average cost of assisted living in California is $63,000 per year ($5,250 per month). Independent living costs will be lower, while memory care costs will be higher.
Other factors affecting cost are:
To experience enrichment in senior living from things like music, come stay at The Palms at La Quinta. Our staff, services, and amenities are designed to give you the best retirement possible.
We have award-winning social programs and give each resident personalized care. You'll be able to live your life with vibrancy and dignity.
At The Palms at La Quinta, we have a signature Vibrant Life® program that gives our residents full autonomy over their own schedule of exciting outings, classes, and activities. Contact us today to schedule a tour at our senior living community in La Quinta, CA.