How Music Can Affect Aging & Memory

Have you ever had a super nostalgic moment? I have them every day whether it be on my phone, in the gym, while watching movies, or in restaurants…basically anywhere music is playing. Music has always been an important part of my life; ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you I am always listening to music! My love of music developed the most in my teens and early twenties, when I was listening to an eclectic mix of genres—everything from jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, and let’s not forget disco. Back then, I didn’t fully realize how much music would become an influential part of the rest of my life, and I had no idea that it could help me (and my brain) age healthily!

We can all name a song that triggers a certain memory for us. For me, one example is the song I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, by The Supremes, featuring Diana Ross and The Temptations. Whenever I hear this song, I vividly remember being in the car with my entire family in 1968, driving to O’Hare airport in Chicago, as my oldest brother was headed to San Francisco, California. He was the first one in our family to leave home to go college, and that song was playing on the radio. My stepdad was at the wheel of our beige Plymouth. Every time I hear that song I am right back there, a 12 year old girl, with all of the fear, sadness, and excitement of watching her big brother get on a plane, paving the way for myself and the rest of my siblings to follow his example. I silently shed so many tears that day. I could go on and on, listing hundreds of songs and associated memories. There's something special about music—it can transport us back to an earlier time. It demonstrates that the nostalgia we feel for the past isn’t just in our hearts; it’s hard-wired into our brains.

Here’s a look at how music and memory influence and impact one another.

Music and memory

A number of studies have underscored the power of music to unlock memories in the brain. One well-known study, done by three psychologists in 1999, found that when college students heard old and new popular songs, memories came to mind for all of them. Some were more general memories, for instance of a time or place, while others were more visceral, similar to the memory I described earlier.

So, why does this happen? 

Well, part of it has to do with significance. During many of the most important moments of our lives, especially all of our “firsts,” like first kisses, first dances, etc.—music is playing. So whether it’s conscious or unconscious, we end up pairing that specific song with that specific memory, and years later, when we hear the song again, we’re taken back to that moment. The science behind this process has to do with our brain chemistry. 

Research shows that when we hear music we love, feel good hormones and neurotransmitters (think oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin) flood our brains. This is especially true from ages 12 to 22, a time when the brain experiences rapid development. In other words, the music we listened to during this time becomes ingrained in our brains—that’s why you still remember all the words to that pop song, even though it’s been years since you’ve heard it. The same goes for the emotions we experience during this time. When the power of these two elements—music and emotion—collide, they create powerful, almost unforgettable memories. That’s where music’s role in aging comes in…

How music protects the brain

Neurological disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s are more prevalent than ever, meaning people are dissociating from their memory earlier and earlier in life. Fortunately, music’s ability to impact memory can help people who have these disorders, because it can activate nostalgia and revive past memories. Music therapy is a well-studied form of treatment for dementia (it doesn’t cure dementia, but it can help mitigate it for people who have it). A study done in 2020 yielded promising results, finding that music improves cognitive function in people with dementia, while Harvard Health reports that listening to music reactivates parts of the brain related to memory. Another study found that feelings of nostalgia facilitate recall of information in people with dementia. Finally, research has shown that playing a musical instrument can actually help ward off dementia. Bottom line: music is a powerful tool for creating, recalling, and preserving our memories—making it an equally powerful tool to help us all avoid cognitive decline and age with ease. 

Music can take you back to so many moments in your life—including ones you didn’t know had such an impact on you. This happens to me all the time. There’s no denying the power of music! It connects us, revitalizes us, and evokes deep emotions in us that many of us aren’t able to tap into otherwise. I find music, nostalgia, and memory to be some of the purest joys of my life. And with that in mind, allow me to share with you the soundtrack of my youth!

MY PURE JOY & NOSTALGIA SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

This playlist started with just a few songs, and I quickly got carried away. (Not many of you know this, but I was a DJ back in the day! So I think it makes sense!) I’m sharing this with you in hopes that you’ll recognize songs that you love and ones that take you back to a magical memory. I hope it inspires you to create your own playlist, too! Happy listening. 

Xo, 

Renata