how guitar keeps you mentally sharp (by rewiring your brain)
Did you know playing guitar can “rewire” your brain and keep you sharp as a tack as you age?
I sure didn’t until just a few days ago…
Which is a shame, because it’s pretty groundbreaking stuff. I wish I had known about it sooner. Ah well, better late than never, right?
Anyways, I saw this discovery in the International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Who, in a 2014 study, found that “playing a musical instrument was significantly associated with less likelihood of dementia and cognitive impairment.”
In plain english?
Playing an instrument lowers risk of common age-related brain problems.
Pretty cool, right?
The question is, why does it work so well to fend off brain aging?
Well, think about it…
Not only does playing use your vision, hearing, touch, and fine movement patterns. But It also stimulates a powerful emotional response in your brain too. And all of that together can “result in long-lasting changes in how your brain functions”.
Which means you feel, act, and think younger just by having some fun on the guitar.
It’s similar to 2 people the same age, but one of them takes daily walks and the other is bedridden. Naturally, all things equal, the person taking daily walks is going to seem years (if not decades) younger because they’re using their body instead of letting it sit dormant.
Guitar trains (and strengthens) your brain in the same way walking does to your body.
So just know, the MORE you pick up your guitar…
The younger your brain gets!
As if you needed another reason to pick up your guitar today. ;)
