Abigail ClarkeRingo Starr, aged 85, released his new country album Long Long Road on 24 April 2026 — and has announced a North American tour starting in May with his All Starr Band. The Beatles drummer is also set to appear alongside Paul McCartney on McCartney's forthcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due 29 May. For millions of fans in the UK, Ringo's extraordinary creative and physical vitality at 85 raises a question that doctors are increasingly able to answer: what is music actually doing to his brain?
What Keeps Ringo Going at 85?
In interview clips accompanying the Long Long Road album release, Ringo speaks about morning meditation, decades of sobriety (he gave up alcohol in 1988), and the sustaining joy of making music with friends. These are not incidental details — they are, according to medical research, precisely the factors associated with healthy cognitive ageing.
A 2023 study published in GeroScience found that professional musicians in their 70s and 80s demonstrated significantly higher scores on memory, executive function, and verbal fluency tests than age-matched non-musicians. The researchers attributed this to what they called "cognitive reserve" — the brain's capacity to maintain function despite age-related changes, built up over decades of musically intensive activity.
Playing an instrument is one of the most neurologically complex things a human can do. It simultaneously engages motor control, auditory processing, memory recall, emotional regulation, and social coordination. According to the NHS, sustained engagement in cognitively demanding activities throughout life is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
The Drummer's Brain: A Special Case
Drummers, it turns out, may have particular cognitive advantages. A 2019 study by researchers at Stockholm University found that drummers possess exceptional timing capacities that correspond to higher general intelligence scores and better problem-solving ability. The precision of rhythmic synchronisation — keeping perfect time while listening to bandmates, reading the room, and physically executing complex polyrhythmic patterns — demands extraordinary coordination between brain hemispheres.
Ringo Starr has been doing this professionally since 1962. That is over six decades of high-level rhythmic activity. At 85, he is not just a rock legend; he is, from a neuroscience perspective, a case study in what sustained musical engagement can do for the human brain.
"Music training is one of the most comprehensive forms of cognitive exercise we know," Dr. Nina Kraus of Northwestern University's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory has noted in multiple peer-reviewed papers. "It changes the brain in ways that protect it across the lifespan."
Sobriety, Meditation, and Longevity
Ringo's 1988 decision to stop drinking is medically significant. Alcohol is a neurotoxin; long-term heavy consumption accelerates brain ageing, increases dementia risk, and damages cardiovascular health. His adoption of Transcendental Meditation — a practice he has maintained since the 1960s when the Beatles famously studied with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — is also relevant.
A 2022 systematic review in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that regular meditation practice was associated with thicker prefrontal cortex tissue (the area responsible for planning, decision-making, and moderating social behaviour) in older adults compared to age-matched non-meditators. This structural difference corresponds to measurably better cognitive performance.
Ringo turned 85 in July 2025. His announcement this week of a new album and forthcoming tour — at an age when many contemporaries have long since retired — is a vivid illustration of a lifestyle that, according to current evidence, genuinely supports healthy ageing.
What This Means If You Are Not a Rock Star
Most people cannot replicate Ringo's six decades of professional drumming. But the underlying principles are accessible to anyone, and UK GPs are increasingly integrating them into guidance for older patients.
Music and cognitive health: You do not need to be a professional musician to benefit. A 2024 paper in The Lancet on dementia prevention identified "cognitively stimulating activities" — which include learning an instrument — as among the most evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Even listening actively to music, engaging with lyrics, and singing along stimulates neural pathways associated with memory.
Physical activity: Ringo has toured continuously into his 80s. The physical demands of performing — stage movement, sustained concentration, travel — contribute to cardiovascular fitness. The NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week for adults, including older adults, noting that regular exercise is the single most effective intervention for healthy brain ageing.
Social connection: The All Starr Band model — rotating collaborators, live audiences, joint creative projects — provides what psychologists call "social scaffolding." Loneliness and social isolation increase dementia risk by 26%, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
When Should You See a GP or Specialist?
Ringo Starr's longevity is inspiring — but his story also highlights the importance of professional health guidance as we age. UK residents concerned about cognitive changes, energy levels, or age-related physical decline should speak to a qualified doctor.
Key reasons to consult a health professional as you age include:
- Memory lapses that are new, frequent, or affecting daily life
- Fatigue that does not improve with rest
- Changes in mood, motivation, or personality
- Balance problems or increased risk of falls
- Sleep difficulties, which are strongly linked to cognitive decline
- Cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes)
A GP can assess whether changes are within the normal range of ageing or warrant further investigation. Specialist referrals — to neurologists, geriatricians, or physiotherapists — are available through the NHS and privately.
Disclaimer: This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have concerns about your health or that of someone you care for, please consult a qualified medical professional.
Ringo Starr's Long Long Road at 85 is, among many things, a reminder that how we spend our decades shapes what we are capable of at the end of them. Music, sobriety, meditation, social engagement, and physical activity are not magic — but the evidence for their combined effect on healthy ageing is stronger than it has ever been. ExpertZoom connects UK residents with qualified health professionals who can provide personalised guidance on ageing well.
For more on longevity science and healthy ageing in later life, see David Dimbleby at 86: The Science Behind Staying Sharp.
