During the last ten years interest has increased in the use of music in the treatment and rehabilitation of neurological disorders. New methods have been developed to improve motor skill competence, cognitive competence and language and social competences in patients with various diseases. During the same period our knowledge of how music is processed by the brain has greatly increased. These two areas of progress have begun to overlap each other and we have started to understand how music can be used specifically for rehabilitation and treatment.
This work is being carried out in several locations simultaneously
Stanford Dance: The health benefits of dancing. For centuries, dance manuals and other writings have lauded the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise. More recently we’ve seen research on further health benefits of dancing, such as stress reduction and increased serotonin level, with its sense of well-being.
Music and Memory This project in the U.S.A. helps people in nursing homes and other care organizations who struggle with a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.
MeetMe A project at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York to make art accessible to people with dementia using MoMA’s teaching methodologies and approach.
The program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University, New York. The Division of Narrative Medicine fortifies clinical practice by training practitioners to recognize, interpret, and glean insights relevant to patient care and clinician performance from the study of humanities, the arts, and creative work
The article Music, Brain, and Rehabilitation (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, March 2016) gives a overview of the results of 27 scientific articles covering 6 research fields
Concrete examples
Examples of the use of culture in preventative work, patient care and rehabilitation
Art and health
Emotions and learning
Music and gastronomy
Music and health including music and film
Dance as therapy for Parkinson’s disease