Classical music can help slow down the onset of dementia , new research has found . Scientists discovered that patients who listened to experts of Mozart had enhanced gene activity in the brain in areas including memory and learning . Meanwhile , the music also affected the activity of a risk gene connected to Parkinson 's disease . Classical music can help slow down the onset of dementia by enhancing gene activity in the brain , new research has found . The Finnish researchers found the changed activity was only present in 'musically-experienced ' patients , who listened to music regularly , suggesting the importance of familiarity with music . For the study , participants were asked to listen to Mozart 's violin concert No 3 , G-major , K.216 , a piece that lasts 20 minutes . The experiment was carried out on both musically experienced and inexperienced participants . The research involved participants listening to Mozart ( pictured ) for 20 minutes . The study showed that genes were enhanced in those deemed 'musically experienced ' in areas such as dopamine secretion , which is when a neurohormone is released in the brain , synaptic neurotransmission , which is how neurons receive information , and learning and memory . Meanwhile , the music appeared to down-regulate genes associated with neuro-degeneration , which is the progressive loss of the structure or function of neurons . The researchers said several of the up-regulated genes were ones which are responsible for song learning and singing in songbirds . This suggests a common evolutionary background of sound perception across different species , they said . One of the most affected genes in this area was synuclein-alpha ( SNCA ) , which is also a known risk gene for Parkinson 's disease . Study leader Doctor Irma Jarvela , of Helsinki University , said : 'The up-regulation of several genes that are known to be responsible for song learning and singing in songbirds suggest a shared evolutionary background of sound perception between vocalizing birds and humans . ' He added : 'The effect was only detectable in musically experienced participants , suggesting the importance of familiarity and experience in mediating music-induced effects . ' Dr Jarvela added that the findingscould give give further insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying music therapy . The effects of this are still largely unknown .
Research saw patients listen to Mozart 's violin concert and then play the same piece of music on a computer. The 'musically-experienced ' people had enhanced gene activity , it found . Music also affected risk gene synuclein-alpha , connected to Parkinson 's .