Music and Aging Well

Music can be soothing or energizing, and so very helpful to well-being and aging.

Research by Harvard professor of psychology Ellen Langer, PhD, shows that experiencing a musical “blast from the past” can really help turn back time for our bodies. In one of her very interesting studies, a group of men in their 70s and 80s became measurably stronger after a week of living like it was 1959, including listening to ’50s hits:

“Music is a cue, and if you listened to a specific song at a time when you were more vital, hearing it now can make you feel the way you felt back then,” says Langer. “The more we experience that vitality, the more we question whether we need to give it up as we get older.” — Emma Haak (found in Huffington Post, August 16, 2014)

In just two studies (many more are mentioned in the article “12 Secrets to Vibrant Aging” in issue 1 of Sublime Aging Magazine):

• The University of Maryland found that listening to music can help heart health: in a study, blood vessels grew by 26% when listening to “happy” music, allowing better blood flow.

 

• The Mayo Clinic points out that music can have effects ranging from reducing feelings of physical pain to boosting memory and improving quality of life.

 

We find that in the stressful year of 2020, listening to soothing music can be a great benefit when you need to relax!  Happy music to dance or move to can be uplifting and you can “let off steam”.  Use the great resource of music to add wellness to your life!