Can music, hobbies, or learning a new skill help?

Brain injuries can shrink a person’s social world. A collection of TBI fact sheets notes that some people lose relationships after a TBI or have trouble meeting new people [12]. It suggests joining a club or other social group. It also notes that many communities have support groups for survivors and their partners [12]. Online groups are an option if local groups are hard to reach [12].

The same collection advises including meaningful activities in your daily schedule [12]. A fact sheet on concussion recovery says most people find support from friends and family helpful [13].

How family and friends can help

Partners, parents and friends often make the difference between staying home and getting out. A guide for families suggests including the person in family activities and keeping visits small, with only 1 or 2 visitors at a time, so the person is not overwhelmed [3]. The TBI fact sheet collection suggests something as simple as putting a walk together on the calendar [12].

Helpful invitations are specific and low pressure. “Want to listen to the new album with me on Saturday morning?” is easier to say yes to than a vague offer to get together sometime. Offer a ride if driving is not yet safe, and be ready to leave early if the person tires.

Small ways to start

• Listen to a favorite album during a planned rest break.
• Sing along to a few songs, alone or with family.
• Take a short walk with a friend and talk about something other than the injury.
• Return to one small part of an old hobby, such as potting a single plant.
• Try a beginner class with a friend, choosing a quiet time of day.

What large population studies suggest

Research in the general population, not specific to brain injury, points the same way. A 2024 report from the Lancet Commission on dementia found that people with less frequent social contact had a higher risk of dementia [14]. It also concluded that cognitively stimulating activities in midlife help protect thinking skills, and that staying mentally, physically and socially active matters in mid and late life [14].

These are associations from large groups of people. The commission itself noted that some links may be only partly causal [14]. They do not prove that a hobby will protect your memory. But they support the idea that an active, connected life is good for the brain.

Sources: Magee et al. 2017 [4]; Park et al. 2014 [8]; Lancet Commission 2024 [14]; MSKTC depression fact sheet [1].

It helps to keep two questions apart. Does this activity make your life better? And does it improve your memory? The first answer is often yes. The second is usually unknown.

Enjoyment, confidence and connection are worth having for their own sake, even when memory test scores stay the same.

When memory slips start to disrupt your job, studies or household, treatment matters more than any hobby. The 2021 VA/DoD guideline covers adults still struggling with memory, focus or organization after a mild brain injury. It suggests a short trial of cognitive rehab led by a qualified clinician [10]. Memory guidelines also stress teaching strategies that fit each person’s daily needs [11].