Not specifically related to Parkinson’s, this study looked into whether providing musical training to older non-musicians would have an effect on the experimental task.
Experienced musicians outperform non-musicians in understanding speech-in-noise (SPIN). The benefits of lifelong musicianship endure into older age, where musicians experience smaller declines in their ability to understand speech in noisy environments… results suggest that short-term musical training in older adults may enhance neural encoding of speech, with the potential to reduce age-related decline in speech perception. [emphasis added]
… these findings suggest that music training enhances neural responses to speech in speech-motor and control regions.The absence of training-related interactions with noise level suggests that the benefit of music training is related to processing speech in general, and not separating it from background noise;
– BUT analysis of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed electrical activities in a couple of areas of the brain related to speech perception for those who were in the musical training group.
Obviously, “further research is needed,” as the saying goes, and perhaps for longer periods of time.
Whatever type of musical training one chooses, singing, keyboard, string, or wind instruments, there’s another saying that applies to that as well: “It may not help, but it can’t hurt.”
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bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 