Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine

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Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine

We seek to bring music and medicine together by 1) making music and rhythm an integral part of treating illness, and 2) improving the health of musicians.

Music as Medicine. Medicine for Musicians.

03/09/2026

Ask us anything for World Coma Day 💬

World Coma Day (March 22) is a global awareness initiative dedicated to coma and disorders of consciousness, with the aim of connecting clinicians, researchers, patients, and families to advance understanding and care.

As our team gears up for World Coma Day, we're opening the conversation: What do you want to know about music, consciousness, and disorders of consciousness?

For example:
🎶 Can people in coma hear music?
🧠 How can music impact neurorecovery?
🎧 What role do music therapists play in neurocritical care and neurorehabilitation?

Drop your questions in the comments and we’ll respond throughout our World Coma Day series.

Learn more about World Coma Day 2026:
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/worldcomaday2026/

ID: Graphic with a light background featuring the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine logo in the top right. Large bold text reads: “LET’S TALK:” with script text underneath: “Music, Consciousness and World Coma Day.” A blue illustrated brain appears in the center, surrounded by cut-paper style icons: three musical notes, a black heart, and a red exclamation mark. A speech bubble near the bottom left says, “Ask us anything!” At the bottom, the handle reads: “.”

03/02/2026

A powerful reminder from neuroscience thatmaking music doesn’t just feel good... it may actually help build cognitive reserve and support brain health across the lifespan.

This recent BBC Future article explores how active music-making strengthens neural connections, supports emotional memory, and promotes healthy aging.

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260212-the-lifelong-benefits-of-making-music

Image Description (alt text)

ID: Graphic with the Johns Hopkins shield logo and text: “JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER for MUSIC & MEDICINE” and “.” To the right is a mock BBC article page with screenshot of the article with the headline: “‘You're not just recalling words, but an emotion': The lifelong benefits of making music,” dated “13 February 2026” by “Julia Hotz,” with “Share” and “Save” icons. Below is a photo of three older adults smiling outdoors with arms raised. Large quote text reads: “Lifelong engagement with music practice, and music in general, can not only improve neurological function, [it] can provide a greater reserve of cells and synapses that, in turn, may delay the onset of age-related neurological disease.” –Larry Sherman, Professor of neuroscience at Oregon Health and Science University. Decorative blue musical notes appear throughout.

02/23/2026

Heart health isn’t only physical!

Music can be a powerful tool to process big emotions like stress, grief, or change, offering comfort and a way to explore feelings that might be difficult to put into words.

What song speaks to your heart when you need it most? Share your song in the comments below.

ID: A white background graphic featuring a navy envelope with a torn paper note inside that reads, “What song speaks to your heart?” (the word “heart” is in red). The envelope is sealed with a gold heart-shaped wax seal and labeled “.” Musical notes are scattered around the image, and a pair of headphones with a heart icon appears in the top left. In the top right is the logo and text: “Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine.”

02/16/2026

This week, pediatric critical care music therapist Jamie Shegoge shares about her work in the pediatric cardiac ICU at @ . Swipe to learn more about how music therapy can support regulation, comfort, and connection for even the littlest patients with congenital heart disease.

ID 1: Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine logo on pink background. Title “Music Therapy for Congenital Heart Disease.” Subtitle “In the pediatric cardiac ICU with Jamie.” Music notes and anatomical heart graphic with handle.

ID 2: Same colors. Title “Physiological Stabilization — In the pediatric cardiac ICU. Soothing touch with music (for infants). Live music entrainment. Rhythmic drumming.” Monitor graphic and photo of Jamie playing guitar.

ID 3: Same colors. Title “Procedural Support — In the pediatric cardiac ICU. Music-Assisted Relaxation. Guided imagery with music. Music listening. Deep breathing.” Photo of Jamie in PPE at bedside.

ID 4: Same colors. Title “Neurodevelopment. Instrument play. Movement and dance. Singable books.” Photo of Jamie with books and developmental instruments like a tambourine and rainstick.

ID 5: Same colors. Title "Bonding & meaning making. Learning an instrument. Songwriting. Memory Making.” Photos of Jamie playing guitar, a songwriting lyric sheet for the song “Baby Beluga” and a ukulele with footprints.

02/09/2026

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Open Heart by Kakar et al (2021) found recorded music listening was associated with lower postoperative anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Because music is low-risk, accessible, and cost-effective, findings like these highlight music’s potential as a supportive addition to perioperative cardiac care.

Read more here: https://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001474?language[]=en

ID: Graphic titled “RESEARCH REFLECTIONS” from the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine features the Johns Hopkins shield logo and name in the top right, with layered heart shapes and colorful musical notes decorating the design; centered on a dark navy panel is the quote, “Offering recorded music is associated with a significant reduction in postoperative anxiety and pain in cardiac surgery.” with “postoperative anxiety and pain” emphasized in bold, followed by the citation “KAKAR ET AL, 2021,” and the handle “” appears at the bottom.

02/02/2026

February is American Heart Month, and we’re exploring how music can support heart health.❤️

From research in cardiac surgery and rehabilitation to bedside work with patients and families in cardiac clinical contexts, we’ll share how music can be integrated into cardiovascular care.

This month we’re sharing:
💙Research on music in cardiac care
🩵Clinical work in cardiac contexts
💙How music supports emotional well-being and heart health

ID: Graphic for American Heart Month from the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine shows a white background with navy and teal abstract shapes, swirling musical staff lines and colorful notes on the right, and an illustrated hand holding a red globe-shaped heart with a medical cross; at the top right is the Johns Hopkins shield logo with the text “Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine,” the headline reads “GETTING TO THE HEART OF MUSIC & MEDICINE,” a navy banner says “for American Heart Month,” and the handle “” appears at the bottom.

01/26/2026

Last week, we shared research demonstrating that group music therapy can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults, with benefits that persist over time.

Now we invite you to reflect on the role of music in your own life.

How has music supported your emotional well-being or the well-being of someone you care about? Personal experiences with music continue to shape the questions researchers explore. Your perspective matters!

Please complete this sentence in the comments: 💬
“I notice music helps me when ______.”

01/20/2026

A new study in the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy examined the effects of a 12-week group music therapy intervention for older adults living in the community in the Czech Republic.

Participants experienced significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms following group MT, which were sustained three months later. Although quality of life did not change immediately, it increased at follow-up, suggesting that the benefits of group MT may emerge gradually over time.

These findings support group MT as a promising non-pharmacological approach to promoting emotional well-being in later life!

Bobčíková, K., Bužgová, R., Kozáková, R., & Zeleníková, R. (2026). Effects of group music therapy on quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults living in the community: A pre–post with follow-up study. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2025.2602125

Read it here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08098131.2025.2602125

➡️ Our next post invites you to connect these findings with your own lived experiences. Stay tuned!

01/12/2026

New research from Jaffa et al. (2025) suggests that frequent engagement in music may help reduce cognitive impairment and lower dementia risk in older adulthood. 🎶🧠

Some music and brain health ideas inspired by this study:
🎧Create a daily listening music playlist
🎹Learn to play an instrument
🎤Sing in choir, faith communities, or with family
🩰Move or dance (safely!) to music you love

Read more: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.70163

Jaffa et al. “What Is the Association Between Music-Related Leisure Activities and Dementia Risk? A Cohort Study.” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2025).

ID 1: A graphic features a photo of a vinyl record player, stacked albums, and headphones on the left. On the top right, the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine logo appears above the heading “Research Reflections.” To the right of the image, on a light teal background, the text reads: “Listening to music and/or playing an instrument may help reduce cognitive impairment and delay the onset of dementia in later life.” Below this, in a beige box, it says: “Jaffa et al, 2025,” and a gold box contains a navy arrow. Along the bottom, the text reads “.”

ID 2: A diagonal split graphic shows a navy panel on the left with the heading “Major Findings” in gold. Below, in white text, it states: “In over 10,800 adults aged 70+ in Australia, researchers found: Frequent listening to music = 39% lower dementia risk and 17% lower risk of cognitive impairment; Listening & playing music = 33% lower dementia risk and 22% lower risk of cognitive impairment.” On the right side, a photo shows an older woman and a younger person playing piano together. At the bottom right, text reads “.”

01/05/2026

We’re kicking off 2026 with a question for you: What music-based intervention (MBI) topics, questions, or areas of music and medicine would you like us to explore this year? Your ideas will shape the conversations, resources, and research we share throughout the year on our page. Drop your ideas in the comments below!

ID: Graphic featuring illustrated cartoon brains with headphones and a laptop. At the top is the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine logo. A large speech bubble reads “HELLO 2026!” Additional speech bubbles state: “What MBI topics interest you?”, “What do you want to learn more about?”, and “Your input will shape the conversations, resources & research we share across the year.” The handle “” appears at the bottom.

12/29/2025

Cheers to another year of growth, research, and momentum in music and medicine! Our team is grateful for the collaborations and creativity that fueled our work in 2025, and can't wait for what's ahead in 2026.

ID: Graphic titled “2025 in numbers” with the Johns Hopkins Center for Music & Medicine logo. Below, the text reads: “Featuring our center’s work to increase research & public awareness about the impacts of music-based interventions in healthcare.” On a navy background, gold and white text lists: “3 research publications,” “3 news article features,” “5 grants, awards & keynotes,” and “9 national & international posters & presentations.” Decorative music notes appear throughout, and “” is written vertically along the right side.

12/22/2025

✨ Week 4 Your Brain on Music Challenge – Connect with Someone✨
Share music with one other person: Make a mini playlist for a friend or patient, sing or dance with a family member, listen to a song together over video.

Ask: “What does this song mean to you?”
Social connection + music = produces powerful neurochemical responses!

Share your experience in the comments below ⤵️

Stay tuned for next week’s challenge!

ID: Winter-themed graphic is decorated with snowflakes and greenery, with the Johns Hopkins logo and the text “JOHNS HOPKINS Center for Music & Medicine” in the top right. Across the top it reads “December YOUR BRAIN ON MUSIC Challenge.” A rounded box labeled “WEEK 4” contains the prompt: “Share music as a way to connect with someone in your life.” Below, two sections read: “Make a playlist, dance, or sing with someone dear to you” and “Listen to a song or video together virtually.” The bottom center displays “.”

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21287

Website

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/center-for-music-and-medicine/index.html

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