Music and Art are Important to Your Health By Linda M . Brandt
I
began creating art at the ripe old age of four , where every painting contained an angel . Funny thing , my angel is still with me and is placed on the back of the canvases of my original art . And why , you ask ?
In 2004 I died in an MRI Tunnel after a 10.5 hour brain surgery and then a terrible bout of spinal meningitis . It ’ s a long story , but it took me nearly three years to learn to walk , drive , paint , etc . again . During that time , I learned much about western medicine , because standard western medicine had never seen someone survive and really did not know what to do with me . I learned a lot about the wiring of the brain and went on to getting certified in therapeutic art in order to help folks with brain injuries or sometimes life ’ s traumatic issues .
I have learned that even drawing and coloring a rainbow will help a child out of sadness and creating vision boards with adults will help to unfold dramatic healing to body , soul and spirit . I am always amazed at the how and why of me going through the brain damage so that I can help others .
In 2010 , a review of existing literature on the benefits of the arts ( music , visual arts , dance and writing ) by Stuckey and Noble considered more than 100 studies , concluding that creative expression has a powerful impact on health and well-being on various patient populations . Most of these studies concur that participation and / or engagement in the arts have a variety of outcomes including a decrease in depressive symptoms , an increase in positive emotions , reduction in stress responses , and , in some cases , even improvements in immune system functioning ; visual art therapy , for example , is trending toward many of these health gains and more . Even viewing art can have an impact , but if you really want to benefit from the arts for wellness , studies continue to show that your active participation is the most productive .
Since 2015 , additional studies indicate that creative selfexpression and exposure to the arts have wide-ranging effects on not only cognitive and psychosocial health , but also physical conditions such as Parkinson ’ s disease , various forms of dementia and cancer . One of the most compelling studies was recently conducted by the Mayo Clinic and proposed that people who engage in music and art activities ( playing , painting , drawing and sculpting ; crafts , like woodworking , pottery , ceramics , quilting , quilling and sewing ) in middle and old age may delay cognitive decline in very old age . My mother is going to be 91 in a week and still paints every day . She is youthful , creative and great fun to be around !
These findings underscore the idea that it is possible to build a “ cognitive reserve ” through engaging in novel , creative experiences that have a protective effect on the brain . My mother says that when she looks in the mirror , she still sees a sixteen-year-old girl . As well , according to the principal investigator , “ Our study supports the idea that engaging the mind may protect neurons , or the building blocks of the brain , from dying , stimulate growth of new neurons , or may help recruit new neurons to maintain cognitive activities in old age ” ( American Academy of Neurology , 2015 ).
I believe the mind is immensely powerful and that we were always meant to create . My doctors are amazed by my recovery …. even though walking is still a little troublesome . But I am thankful every day to still be here …. and especially able to create ! As my momma says , “ It ’ s our Happy Place !”
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