Playing the Drums for What Ails You

Five years ago, Ole Jensen, who had never played the drums, sat in as the drummer in his daughter's band; today, Jensen, 63, is still going strong on drums.

My daughter’s band was practicing but the drummer was not available. They asked if I could  keep a beat for them; I told them that I had never played drums but that I would give it a shot. After about an hour I found that I enjoyed playing.  That was almost 5 years ago and I have been playing ever since.

At a doctor’s visit, I mentioned that I played drums. He was startled, but then told me it was probably the best thing I could be doing, as I have Type 2 diabetes and playing drums takes a lot of physical work and would keep my feet and hands very active and slow the progress of the disease.

He also said that playing drums would probably keep me from getting dementia as I age, because playing drums is as much mental as it is physical.

Ole B. Jensen
South Jordan, Utah