Health and the Arts

The Institute for Health & Aging's (IHA) Health and the Arts portfolio focuses on the therapeutic potential of artistic creativity and music, aiming to improve health outcomes, particularly for older adults with and without cognitive impairments. Projects in this area include studies on the neural mechanisms of creativity across different art forms, using functional MRI to explore how improvisation affects the brain and assessing music-based interventions for enhancing cognitive function and self-regulation. Additionally, IHA is exploring culturally tailored music therapy for dementia patients and their caregivers. IHA also leads a research network that promotes interdisciplinary studies on the health benefits of music and dance. This portfolio highlights the power of arts in health promotion, offering insights into how creativity can be integrated into health care and aging services.

Projects

Feasibility and Acceptability Testing of a Culturally Tailored Music Therapy Intervention for Persons Living With Dementia and Their Care Partners

This project customizes music therapy sessions for Chinese American older adults with dementia, incorporating cultural preferences in music, language and storytelling.

Principal Investigator: Karen Barrett
Partners: San Francisco Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Centers, University of the Pacific
Funder: UCSF SoN Research Committee Intramural Grant

Improvisation Across Art Forms

This project investigates the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying creativity by examining how different art forms (e.g., music, comedy, visual arts) engage the brain during improvisation.

Learn more about this project: Sound and Music Perception Lab