We tend to think of music as food for the mind and the mood — but a growing body of research suggests it may quietly touch the body too, including the way our immune system works. It is a fascinating idea, and an encouraging one. Here is what the studies suggest, kept in perspective.
Can music affect your immune system?
The honest answer is: possibly, and the early signs are interesting. Several studies have looked at a marker called salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) — one of the body’s first lines of defence against everyday bugs — and found that it can rise after listening to music. Researchers have observed this across different styles, whether the music is relaxing or energising.
None of this means music is a substitute for a healthy lifestyle or medical care. But it does hint that something as simple and pleasant as putting on a favourite track might gently support the body as well as the mind.
How the link may work
The most likely explanation is stress. Ongoing stress is hard on the immune system, and calming music appears to help turn the stress response down. Studies have repeatedly found that relaxing music can lower cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, and slow-tempo music has been associated with a rise in oxytocin — both changes that point toward a calmer, more balanced state. In other words, music may support your body largely by helping your mind unwind.
Making music part of your wellbeing
- Choose what you love — enjoyment seems to be part of the effect.
- Lean on calm for stress — soft, slow music to wind down; something more upbeat to lift your energy.
- Make it a habit — a few minutes most days is easier to sustain than the occasional long session.
Sound for body and mind
Our Calm playlist is full of the soft, slow pieces that help the body ease into a relaxed state, and the wider Improving Mood collection is there for the days you need a lift.
Want the full toolkit for your wellbeing? Members unlock our complete library of 600+ curated tracks, recorded at 432 Hz and refreshed every month. See what a membership includes.
So the next time you press play, know that you might be doing a little something good for your body, too.
Sources: Music, mental health, and immunity, PMC · Choir singing/listening, s-IgA & cortisol, J. of Behavioral Medicine · Salivary oxytocin & cortisol after music, PMC
During its drafting, this article was reviewed with the help of artificial intelligence.