“I think it could be immense. It’s something that could help people maintain cognitive abilities longer,” Rebecca MacAulay, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Maine, said regarding a new research project examining music and brain health in older adults.
University of Maine researchers are studying whether listening to music or learning to play an instrument helps older adults maintain cognitive function as they age. Funded by the National Institute on Aging, the three-year study compares two 12-week music programs for adults with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment.
Mild cognitive impairment involves changes in memory or thinking that exceed normal aging without severely interfering with daily life. MacAulay leads the research alongside Philip Edelman, director of the UMaine School of Performing Arts, and Shannon McCoy, an associate professor of psychology and the study’s statistician.
Recruiting 48 Participants for Cognition Comparison
The study will enroll 48 older adults, splitting participants evenly between normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group learns to play the soprano recorder, while the other participates in music listening and appreciation activities. Nathan Sprangers, a former UMaine student who studied in the School of Performing Arts and teaches in the community, will lead the instruction.
Researchers expect both activities will provide benefits, though in different ways. MacAulay and Edelman developed custom learning materials for older adults featuring larger visuals and more repetition, adapting beginner materials typically designed for children. Participants in the music training group receive a recorder and music stand, while those in the listening group receive digital music players and headphones. No previous musical training is permitted, and individuals who already read music or play an instrument are ineligible.
Researchers Will Evaluate Cognitive Skills and Social Connection
Researchers will examine memory, attention, thinking skills, social connection, and emotional well-being before and after the 12-week programs. The evaluation includes cognitive control abilities like multitasking, dividing attention, and avoiding distractions—skills that can decline with normal aging and drop more sharply in people at risk for dementia.
Social connection emerged as a top benefit in an earlier pilot study, where participants reported increased camaraderie in group settings. The recorder was selected because it is inexpensive, portable, and features a fingering system designed to accommodate limited finger dexterity, such as arthritis. Recorders cost about $10, which could make the program easy for senior centers, libraries, and retirement communities to adopt if future research supports its expansion.
Project Runs Through 2029 in Community Locations
The three-year project runs from September through August 2029. The first groups begin in the spring with 12 participants in each study condition, followed by a second round in the fall to reach the total enrollment of 48. Programs will take place in community locations rather than on the UMaine campus to make participation more accessible.
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