“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ― Albert Einstein
Regardless of the career path one followed in years past, it is never too late to find a new passion. Whether you dabbled in your youth or have always just wanted to try, learning to sing or play a musical instrument not only offers a fun, new challenge, it also stimulates multiple parts of the brain and can boost brain function. Researchers have found “that sustained engagement in cognitively demanding, novel activities enhances memory function in older adulthood” (Lodi-Smith et al., 2014). Also, individual music lessons “may serve as an effective cognitive intervention for age-related cognitive decline” (Bugos et al., 2007).
Highlands residents interested in this type of musical exploration can sign up for Train & Gain: Music for Brain Training with campus music therapist, Jessie Power, jpower@kensingtonretirement.com. Feel free to reach out if you would like to learn more about this or other music programs.