Music has been a spiritual refuge for many of us during the coronavirus pandemic. There’s also evidence that its role in reducing stress and anxiety can positively affect the body’s immune system.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jeremy Reynolds cites several studies, including a 2013 review in the journal Brian Behavior and Immunity, examining the impact of music on biomarkers and hormone levels. “Immunoglobulin A, which plays a crucial role in immune functions, was cited as being ‘particularly responsive to music.’ There is also general consensus among researchers that listening to music reduces cortisol levels,” Reynolds reports.
He quotes Dr. Andrew Levin, a University of Pittsburgh neurologist: “I’m a skeptic by nature, so when I first heard of the mind-body connection I thought it was new-age woo-woo. However, the more I learned about human physiology, and in particular neurophysiology and neurology, I became increasingly convinced that we actually underestimate how profound this connection is.”
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