Want to keep your brain sharp? A top neurologist recommends learning something challenging—like piano, which she started playing in her 40s.
Dr. Lara V. Marcuse, codirector of Mount Sinai’s Epilepsy Program, found an unexpected way to boost her brain health when she borrowed her son’s piano lesson book one evening. “I’m a 1980s New York City club kid. I grew up loving house music and never cared for classical,” she told Self magazine. Yet, seven years later, she’s still at the piano—not because she’s an expert, but because the challenge benefits her brain in essential ways.
Science supports this approach. Taking on difficult new skills builds and strengthens neural connections, which may help guard against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Learning music, in particular, activates multiple brain areas at once, enhancing brain plasticity and memory. A 2021 review in Frontiers in Neuroscience confirmed that playing music improves brain adaptability and leads to lasting structural changes.
The secret isn’t to become a master; it’s about regular practice and pushing your brain. “Just try to do it often, and keep sessions short,” Marcuse advises. Even a few minutes count. Whether it’s picking up a language, painting, or tai chi, the activity must challenge your thinking. Research from 2020 shows that regularly engaging in demanding hobbies lowers the risk of cognitive problems and depression in older adults.
“Everything you do to protect your brain will improve your life,” Marcuse says, noting that piano practice brings “beauty and hope” to her busy routine.
