Study: Turn Down the Music for Better Short-Term Memory

The positive benefits of elderly people listening to music have long been celebrated, but a new study suggests that it might also cause seniors to be less able to commit simple information to short-term memory. 

During the study, college-aged individuals and older adults were asked to match faces and names they were given under two scenarios, the first being silence and the second being listening to musical rain or non-lyrical rock music (including lesser-known songs from Eric Clapton, Jefferson Airplane and Rush). 

The researchers found that both age groups found the music distracting, but older adults remembered 10 percent fewer names when listening to music. 

The researchers said their findings could be useful to long-term care facilities in activity planning. 

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