I just ran across an article about a study indicating that playing a musical instrument (among other things) may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
I hope this study proves to have validity. If so, we’re all on the right track. I can now insist to my wife that my whistle playing is really a health issue. I suppose the down side is that I’ll be able to remember how badly I play.
I don’t think I got the url thing right so someone can click on it. Help!
Even just listening to music can have a positive effect on the brain. I don’t have a proper reference handy, but it’s been widely confirmed that the brains of youngsters (toddlers and beginning school kids) who receive plenty of exposure to music, including singing/dancing along, simply have more “connections” happening inside. These multiple connections (was it described as synapse firings?) lead to a better functioning brain, which is a big aid as they build language and other abilities. It does make a difference.
Of course, we’re preaching to the converted here, but sometimes it amazes me how such wisdom is lost on certain people. One of my friends is a school custodian who, when his firstborn arrived at school not having a clue about books and the alphabet, was shocked to discover that spending time with books before kids get to school is an enriching and important move. He said, “I thought they learned to read in school, so there was no point in reading books with him at home.”
Needless to say, he jumped on the bandwagon and began spending time exploring books with his oldest, as well as his second and third children. When the younger ones arrived at school, they had a keen interest in books and stories, recognized most letters, knew books ventured from left to right, knew how words followed the same path on the page, etc.
I’m not saying that we should pressure our kids into being masterful readers or fiddlers at the age of three or anything, but just that the time invested in sharing, exploring, and enjoying such pleasures is rewarding in itself…and the rewards are both immediate and long term.
Interesting. My late grandfather had alzhiemers before he died and he was a musician all his life. However he was 89 when he died so I don’t know if it would have come sooner or not.
