Music and Puzzles: The Best Hobbies for Brain Health

Music and Puzzles: The Best Hobbies for Brain Health

Neuroscientists' Advice for Maintaining Focus and Memory: Perhaps it's time to revive an old hobby or try a new activity. There are scientifically proven activities that help keep your brain active while also having a great time.

It may be time to revive an old hobby or try something new. "Engaging in hobbies is one of the best ways to maintain brain health," says Professor Vonetta Dotson, chair of the Department of Neuropsychology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and author of "Stay Smart: The Science of Brain Maintenance as You Age." She adds, "Many hobbies, such as creating art or playing music, stimulate the mind, enhancing the brain's ability to adapt and build new connections."

Hobbies help you feel happy and reduce stress, which protects memory and cognition. Relaxing hobbies, such as knitting or listening to music, which lower stress levels or promote mindfulness, also reduce stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute to anxiety and cognitive decline. Dotson adds that they increase the release of brain chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, associated with feelings of happiness and well-being.

"Learning a new activity is motivating and rewarding," says Margaret Rice, professor in the departments of neurosurgery and neuropsychiatry at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. "Many studies have shown that novel and positive experiences boost dopamine release." Engaging in any activity that stimulates a specific brain circuit strengthens it, as repeated actions lead to stronger synaptic connections in the pathways underlying the behavior in question. Strengthening synaptic connections is a key component of learning and memory.

"Learning may take a little longer than it did when a person was younger, but the brain is still capable of learning and adapting," says Professor Dotson. "The brain maintains neuroplasticity, or its ability to reorganize and form new neural pathways in response to experience, throughout life."

Professor Dotson adds that studies have found that healthy older adults who take up a new hobby show positive changes in their brains, such as increased volume in different brain regions and increased cognitive processing efficiency. However, research shows that even people with cognitive impairment or dementia can benefit cognitively and emotionally from the following hobbies:

1. Aerobic Exercise

Including Music and Puzzles: The Best Hobbies for Brain Health, Physical activity, such as brisk walking or hiking, tops the list of beneficial hobbies. The results of a recent study revealed that exercise improved cognitive function in study participants in their fifties and older, regardless of their cognitive status.

2- Music

Music and puzzles are among the best hobbies for brain health. Whether a person listens to music, sings, or learns to play an instrument, music has been proven to keep the brain active. Research has not determined why music benefits humans, but one theory is that it engages multiple neural systems in the brain.

3- Arts and Crafts

Creativity is another way to maintain brain health. Professor Dotson notes that one study found that practicing visual arts, such as coloring, doodling, and freehand drawing, activates the medial prefrontal cortex. Participants reported that these activities provided relaxation, as well as improved creativity and problem-solving at the end of each art session.

4- Reading

A long-term study found that reading, especially for those who read more than once a week, prevents long-term cognitive decline in older adults. Professor Rice explains that reading keeps language centers active, so choose something that interests them, whether it's a mystery, fantasy, or historical novel.

5 - Puzzles and Games

Research has shown that solving daily word puzzles isn't just a way to pass the time; it supports brain health. Professor Rice says, "Word puzzles can improve language skills, strategic thinking, and flexibility."