1625 Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences cite as: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 2022, Vol. 77, No. 9, 1625–1636 https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac021 Advance Access publication February 3, 2022 Research Article Piano Training Enhances Executive Functions and Psychosocial Outcomes in Aging: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Jennifer A. Bugos, PhD 1, * , and Yan Wang, PhD 2 1 School of Music, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. 2 Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. *Address correspondence to: Jennifer A. Bugos, PhD, School of Music, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., MUS 101, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. E-mail: bugosj@usf.edu Received: May 9, 2021; Editorial Decision Date: January 24, 2022 Decision Editor: Vanessa Taler, PhD Abstract Objectives: Preliminary evidence suggests that piano training may enhance areas of executive functions and psychosocial outcomes in aging adults. However, little is known regarding specifc cognitive outcomes affected and whether or not en- hancements are sustainable. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of piano training on cogni- tive performance, psychosocial well-being, and physiological stress and immune function in older adults. Methods: Older adults (N = 155, 60–80 years) completed an initial 3-h assessment of standardized cognitive and psycho- social measures. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups: piano training, computer-assisted cognitive training, or a no-treatment control group. Training groups completed a 16-week program with 2 group training sessions per week for 90 min each session. All participants completed a standard battery of executive functions (working memory, processing speed, verbal fuency), psychosocial measures (musical and general self-effcacy, mood), and physiological meas- ures (cortisol and immune function) at pretesting, posttesting, and at a 3-month follow-up time point. Results: The results showed that piano training and computer-assisted cognitive training enhanced working memory and processing speed as compared to controls. Piano training signifcantly increased verbal fuency skills in category switching, as compared to computer-assisted cognitive training and no-treatment controls. Participants in piano training demonstrated enhanced general and musical self-effcacy posttraining; however, no signifcant differences were found for physiological measures. Discussion: Piano training resulted in a unique advantage in category switching as compared to computer-assisted cogni- tive training and no-treatment controls. Music training programs may mitigate or prevent cognitive defcits in verbal skills. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02564601 Keywords: Adults, Cognition, Executive functions, Music, Piano training Older adults who participate in music training obtain sen- sory and cognitive benefts (Alain et al., 2019; Degé & Kerkovius, 2018; Dubinsky et al., 2019; Johnson et al., 2013). For instance, longitudinal research showed that 12 weeks of general music or visual art training modu- lated sensory-evoked responses in healthy older adults as compared to controls (Alain et al., 2019). Short-term choral participation was found to beneft speech-in-noise perception in adults with age-related and subjective hearing loss (Dubinsky et al., 2019; Hennessy et al., 2021). Increases in working memory were found for adults who completed a 15-week drumming program as compared to © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/77/9/1625/6521521 by guest on 16 February 2024