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Abstract
Extant literature supports that music learning can improve or maintain aspects of cognitive function in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD), but whether a core cognitive ability underlies change in more specific cognitive abilities has not been addressed. The present study examined the effects of a piano training intervention on cognitive processing speed performance and examined baseline level of cognitive flexibility as a moderator of expected training-related improvements in 41 older adults at risk for ADRD. Analyses revealed significant improvements in cognitive processing speed post-intervention and demonstrated that greater training time predicted greater improvements in cognitive processing speed. Baseline cognitive flexibility performance was not found to moderate this association nor degree of improvements in cognitive processing speed. Findings highlight the benefits of musical training for older adults in early stages of cognitive decline and warrant further investigation of moderators of training-related improvement in cognitive performance.