Music can have a profound impact on your life in many ways.
- It can help improve your memory
- It can increase intelligence
- It can even improve the likelihood of getting into medical school
But study after study shows that music can go way beyond, and actually make an impact on your health as well.
Take, for instance, what some have called the Kenny Rogers Effect.
When people suffer brain injuries, such as strokes, when they listen to music while undergoing standard therapy, they fare better in their progress towards recovery.
Listening to favorite songs helped people perform better, and thus activated more therapeutic effects that lasted for the long term, helping them improve at a faster rate. While scientists tried a variety of music in a variety of genres, they found the songs that provided the greatest benefits were performed by artist Kenny Rogers, thus the Kenny Rogers Effect was born.
While studies continue to determine the long-lasting effects music has on the brain, other studies continue as well.
Music May Help Prevent Seizures
Seizures can be very damaging to the body. It has been shown that music by Mozart played on the piano has seizure reducing effect in the brain when played within five minutes of exposure. In some cases, it has also worked with patients in comas. While experimentation with other forms of music is still at a minimal level, it may be a reason to bring out the classical music the next time you sit down to play.
Helping Combat Parkinson’s Symptoms
Music is good for the brain, its been shown to be true over and over again. But what about the body?
Victims of Parkinson’s suffer from muscle spasms, locking muscles and problems with balancing. By using music therapy, it has been shown to resolve many of the physical issues faced by many victims currently suffering with Parkinson’s.
Have you ever listened to music – even music you don’t enjoy – and found your foot keeping beat to the music? Its because portions of your brain that deal with rhythm and movement are so automated, we require little thought to feel the beat. This movement isn’t handled by the same process we use to make other moves, such as walking up the stairs. Instead, the brain associates music with movement, and sends the movement signal to your legs. In some cases, music can trick a broken, unresponsive body into movement and action, and bring balance back into the lives of people that may have lost it.
Do you have any stories on how music has helped with the health of someone important in your life? With so much growing evidence showing the benefits of music, why not make it a regular part of your routine.
