The Music in You

Dear Music Lover,

To give your argument some credence, let’s start by quoting an article recently published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. According to a study of nearly 11,000 elderly adults, people who “always” listen to music are 39 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who said they “rarely” do.

If your husband asks why, you can tell him that numerous scientific and psychological studies have shown that music can lift our moods, combat depression, improve blood flow in ways similar to statins, lower levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol, and ease pain.

To bring your argument home, you can tell him research has shown that music improves the outcomes for patients after surgery. Another study reported in Nature Neuroscience even demonstrated that levels of the feel-good chemical dopamine in the brain rose by up to nine percent when people listened to music they enjoyed.

My unscientific advice is to listen to music while running errands or doing chores around the house. Put on your favorite playlist, radio station, or ask Alexa to play something that suits your mood or activity.

When my husband and I play Rummikub before dinner, I frequently ask Alexa to play Easy Listening music. After getting into bed, I ask her to play soft piano music or lullabies to calm me before sleep.

Author Matt Haig, in his book How to Stop Time, writes, “Music doesn’t get in. Music is already in. Music simply uncovers what is there, makes you feel emotions that you didn’t necessarily know you had inside you, and runs around waking them all up. A rebirth of sorts.”

Even William Shakespeare had an opinion. “Music can raze out the written troubles of the brain.” Too bad Mr. Shakespeare didn’t have Alexa at his disposal.