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A study from the University of Edinburgh suggests that learning to play a musical instrument in childhood is linked to improved cognitive abilities in old age. Researchers found that individuals with more experience playing an instrument showed greater lifetime improvement on cognitive tests, even after accounting for factors like socio-economic status, education, and health. The study involved 366 participants from the “Lothian Birth Cohort 1936,” who were tested on cognitive abilities at ages 11 and 70. The findings indicate that playing an instrument is associated with small but detectable cognitive benefits over a lifetime, supporting the idea that mentally challenging activities can enhance thinking skills. The study was published in the journal Psychological Science and funded by Age UK and the Economic and Social Research Council.