LONDON, April 30 -- When it comes to amateur music enthusiasts playing an instrument, the piano is among the most popular. And this isn't surprising, since playing the piano offers multiple benefits, especially for elderly. A study sheds new light on the process that takes place as seniors learn to play the piano and reveals the extent to which this activity helps them maintain their cognitive abilities and motor skills over the long term.

The authors of this study, published in the journal Brain Sciences, came to this conclusion after undertaking research with 86 volunteers, with an average age of 72.5. They were all in good health, with no significant neurological or motor problems. Some of them had played the piano in the past, but we...