Sing your heart out: Belting out a tune provides a profound health boost
Doris Green celebrates her 104th birthday with friends at the Belconnen senior citizens club by singing favourite songs with a choir. Picture by Karleen MinneyCan singing actuallyimprove your health?Create. . .
Doris Green celebrates her 104th birthday with friends at the Belconnen senior citizens club by singing favourite songs with a choir. Picture by Karleen MinneyCan singing actuallyimprove your health?Create afree accountto read this articleor signup to continue readingWell, apparently yes. Singer-turned-scientist Dr Kathleen Mikkelsen from the University of Victoria says singing your heart out may have a number ofpositive health benefits, with studies suggesting it can lower some inflammatory markers and improve mood. Mikkelsen toldThe Seniorthat "singing is a whole-body exercise". "You use your breathing, and when you sing you stimulate the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system - your 'rest and digest' response," she said. "For older people, singing is especially good because it stimulates breathing. As we get older we sometimes don't do enough deep breathing. "It's good for cognition, it's good for memory, it's good for hearing and for active listening. "The benefits appear to be even greater when you sing as part of a group. "There are biochemical benefits from simply singing alone, but there are also social benefits from singing in a community choir," Mikkelsen said. "Being part of a choir can help combat loneliness. It helps people form connections, have social engagement and feel a sense of belonging. "It's also very challenging for the brain. You're remembering lyrics, and some choirs include movement as well, so there's coordination involved. "And the good news? The benefits don't derive at all from the quality of your singing. "Your brain and your body don't care whether you're a really good singer or whether you're singing purely for pleasure," she said. "You still get the same sort of biochemical effect. "Lifelong love of singingMikkelsen said she fell in love with singing as a young girl. Her mother was a singer and the principal of the Young Talent School in Melbourne so she grew up immersed in music. As a child, she regularly put on performances for the neighbours, inspired by singers such as Olivia Newton-John and ABBA. "I loved the feeling of being able to sing," she said. She especially loved harmonising. "I was in the school choir and I was always drawn to harmony because I loved how it felt to sing with a group of people," Mikkelsen said. "It just made you feel good. "When she left school she studied music at university and performed in a range of bands including an ABBA tribute band. She then moved into science, completing a PhD in biomedicine, where her research focused on inflammation and molecular biology. But she still sings regularly with her husband, a bass player. "We have a band in Mallacoota and we play on New Year's Eve and at lots of community events and parties," she said. Twice weeklyThe Senior newslettersStay in the know on news that matters to you with twice weekly newsletters from The Senior.