Given that previous studies have shown that
recreational music-making has benefi ts for younger
individuals, we explored two questions. 1. Could
a recreational music-making protocol improve
mood and modulate immunological responses in a
direction opposite to that associated with chronic
stress in older adults? 2. Would the protocol affect
older and younger participants differently? Two
groups of volunteers demarcated at age 65 years
underwent identical one-hour recreational musicmaking
interventions. Pre-and post-intervention
data were collected using blood samples and
mood state questionnaires. Data from 27 older
and 27 younger volunteers were analyzed for
cytokine production levels, natural killer cell
activity, plasma catecholamines, and numbers of
T cells, T cell subsets, B cells, and natural killer
cells. Exercise expenditure was also recorded. In
the older group, we found signifi cant increases in
the number of lymphocytes, T cells, CD4
+ T cells,
memory T cells, and production of interferon- γ
and interleukin-6. In the younger group, modulation
was non-significant. Worthy of note was the
specific immunological changes in the direction
opposite to that expected with chronic stress in
the older group. The increase in Th1 cytokine
IFN-γ and unchanged Th2 cytokine IL-4 and IL-10
levels in the older group suggests a shift to a Th1-
dominant status, a shift opposite to that expected
with stress. However, the immunological changes
were not statistically different between the two
groups. Mood states improved in both groups,
but were also not statistically different between
groups. Although no statistically significant
difference was found between the two age groups,
the improvement in immunological profile and
mood states in the older group and the low level
of energy required for participation suggest this
music-making protocol has potential as a health
improvement strategy for older individuals.
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