October 7, 2020 By Andrew E. Budson, MD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Can music really affect your well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and even happiness? A recent survey on music and brain health conducted by AARP revealed some interesting findings about the impact of music on cognitive and emotional well-being:

1. Music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression compared to people overall.
2. Of survey respondents who currently go to musical performances, 69% rated their brain health as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 58% for those who went in the past and 52% for those who never attended. 
3. Of those who reported often being exposed to music as a child, 68% rated their ability to learn new things as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 50% of those who were not exposed to music. 
4. Active musical engagement, including those over age 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function. 
5. Adults with no early music exposure but who currently engage in some music appreciation show above average mental well-being scores.