One of the next big medical trends will tap into the healing powers of music.
In January, three American researchers are publishing a book entitled, Your Playlist Can Change Your Life. The authors – Galina Mindlin, Don Durousseau and Joseph Cardillo – claim their book offers scientifically proven methods for using your favourite music to enhance your health, memory, organization skills and alertness.
Of course, it's not news that listening to music can affect mood. But some academics think it can do a lot more. For instance, music could help ease walking for patients with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement.
The University of Toronto is considering a proposal to set up a new centre on music and health research that will bring together experts in medicine, neuroscience and psychology. "We believe that music and health is a multidisciplinary pursuit," said Lee Bartel, associate dean of research with U of T's faculty of music.
Stay tuned. You'll probably be hearing a lot more about music as medicine.