Women took over the Grammy awards and performances last night. Taylor Swift made history as the first person ever to earn Album of the Year four times — Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon each have three. Siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas walked away Song of the Year for What Was I Made For? Victoria Monet was awarded Best New Artist, and Boygenius earned three awards, including Best Alternative Music Album, while one of their members, Phoebe Bridgers, took home a fourth — the most of any other artist— for her feature on Ghost in the Machine with SZA.

There were a few headlining moments: Joni Mitchell performed for the first time at the Grammys, almost a decade after an aneurysm left her unable to speak, with her 1968 song Both Sides Now. Tracy Chapman made a rare appearance to perform her hit Fast Car. Celine Dion, who has a hard time singing due to a neurological disease, also made a rare appearance to announce Album of the Year. Finally, Billy Joel performed his first new song in 17 years.

But the awards — as always — weren’t safe from criticism: The awards show has been called out numerous times over the years, with Will Smith and DJ Jazzy even boycotting in 1989 when the rap awards weren’t televised, according to CNN. This year, when Jay-Z took to the stage to accept the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, he had some things to say. He acknowledged the progress that has been made but still thinks there’s a long way to go, using his wife Beyonce as an example — being the most awarded in Grammys history (winning a record 32 awards last year alone) but having never won the coveted Album of the Year. (New York Times | Washington Post | CNN | Associated Press)

Maybe it’s time to dust off that guitar you used to play: People who play musical instruments or otherwise incorporate musical practices into their lives — particularly playing the piano or singing in a choir — have better brain health when they’re older, according to a UK study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Dementia researcher Anne Corbett claims that this is the result of using the brain’s agility and resilience effectively and improving memory and executive function.

Singing in a choir is similarly linked to improved cognitive function, probably because of the socialization that comes with being a part of a group, or in this case a choir, says The Guardian. Socialization can slow down symptoms of dementia by reducing the loss of cognitive function and memory, according to Dementia Care Central.

What this means: Older people, especially those with a higher risk of dementia, can be encouraged to stave off geriatric cognitive decline by integrating music into their lives, and ensuring they join social groups for better cognitive abilities. The findings can also feed into public health policies that advocate for more musical education.

Tags: