Music is a powerful and widely accessible form of therapy that can offer many benefits to our physical and mental health. While we often associate the healing power of music with its ability to improve mood and reduce stress, emerging research suggests that music may also help support immunity and reduce inflammation in the body.
The link between music and immune function is a relatively new area of study, but recent research is shedding light on the fascinating ways in which music can impact our immune system. A review by Chanda and Levitin (2013) noted that several small studies have linked music, especially group singing, to increases in salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that is part of the body’s first line of defence against infection. One study of choir members, for example, found that singing increased IgA (Kreutz et al., 2004). The reviewers described this evidence as promising but preliminary.
Early research also suggests music may influence inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. In a study of older adults with cerebrovascular disease and dementia, those who received music therapy had lower levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) than those who did not (Okada et al., 2009), and a group drumming program was associated with a shift toward a less inflammatory immune profile (Fancourt et al., 2016). These findings suggest that incorporating music into healthcare practices may hold promise as a non-pharmacological approach to reducing inflammation and improving overall health.
The mechanism through which music influences immunity and inflammation is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to involve the intricate interplay between the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. Music appears to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (Okada et al., 2009), which promotes relaxation and can help reduce stress-induced inflammation. Additionally, listening to pleasurable or emotionally engaging music may trigger the release of endorphins – natural painkillers produced by the brain – which can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Moreover, research has also suggested a direct connection between emotional responses triggered by music and immune function. The field of psychoneuroimmunology explores how emotions can impact immune responses at both cellular and molecular levels (Fancourt et al., 2014). Listening to uplifting or relaxing music can bring about positive emotions such as joy, comfort and peace, which promote overall well-being and may help support immunity.
Incorporating music into daily routines as a part of self-care or relaxation techniques may offer benefits beyond mere enjoyment; it could potentially play an essential role in supporting our immune system’s defences against pathogens and mitigating inflammatory processes responsible for chronic illnesses.
While more research is needed to understand exactly how music influences immunity and inflammation, these early findings point to exciting possibilities for integrating music therapy into preventative healthcare practices as a natural way of promoting immunity enhancement alongside conventional treatments. As we continue exploring this fascinating connection between music and well-being, it might be worth considering turning up the volume of those feel-good tunes next time you’re looking for a holistic approach to better health outcomes!
Music is a complement to, not a substitute for, medical care.
References:
1. Chanda, M. L., & Levitin, D. J. (2013). The neurochemistry of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(4), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.02.007
2. Fancourt, D., Ockelford, A., & Belai, A. (2014). The psychoneuroimmunological effects of music: A systematic review and a new model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 36, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.014
3. Fancourt, D., Perkins, R., Ascenso, S., Carvalho, L. A., Steptoe, A., & Williamon, A. (2016). Effects of group drumming interventions on anxiety, depression, social resilience and inflammatory immune response among mental health service users. PLOS ONE, 11(3), e0151136. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151136
4. Kreutz, G., Bongard, S., Rohrmann, S., Hodapp, V., & Grebe, D. (2004). Effects of choir singing or listening on secretory immunoglobulin A, cortisol, and emotional state. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 27(6), 623–635. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15669447/
5. Okada, K., Kurita, A., Takase, B., Otsuka, T., Kodani, E., Kusama, Y., Atarashi, H., & Mizuno, K. (2009). Effects of music therapy on autonomic nervous system activity, incidence of heart failure events, and plasma cytokine and catecholamine levels in elderly patients with cerebrovascular disease and dementia. International Heart Journal, 50(1), 95–110. https://doi.org/10.1536/ihj.50.95