Singing in a choir could hit the right health note

One hour of choral singing was found to boost levels of immune proteins, reduce stress and improve mood and the study raises the real possibility that singing in choir rehearsals could help to put people in the best possible position to receive treatment, maintain remission and support cancer patients.

The study, by Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music, published in online journal ecancermedicalscience, tested 193 members of five different choirs. Results showed singing for 60 minutes was associated with significant reductions in stress hormones, such as cortisol, and increases in quantities of cytokines - proteins of the immune system - which can boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness.

Dr Ian Lewis, Director of Research and Policy at Tenovus Cancer Care and co-author of the research, said: “We’ve long heard anecdotal evidence that singing in a choir makes people feel good, but this is the first time it’s been demonstrated that the immune system can be affected by singing.

“It’s really exciting and could enhance the way we support people with cancer in the future.”

The benefits of singing and its ability to bond people together and put them in good spirits have been advocated by the likes of Gareth Malone in TV series including The Choir and The Choir: Military Wives.

Yesterday, Mary Wilkinson, former chairman of the Grassington Singers, said of the findings: “I have always thought that singing was certainly good for the soul.

“Musical people are happy people, it brings out the best in you, so I suppose that I am not surprised.”

The study also found those with the lowest levels of mental wellbeing and highest levels of depression experienced greatest mood improvement, associated with lower levels of inflammation in the body - there is a link between high levels of inflammation and serious illness.

Choir members gave samples of their saliva before an hour of singing, and then again just after. The samples were analysed to see what changes occurred in a number of hormones, immune proteins, neuropeptides and receptors.

Dr Daisy Fancourt, Research Associate at the Centre for Performance Science, a partnership between the Royal College of Music and Imperial College London and co-author of the research, said: “Many people affected by cancer can experience psychological difficulties such as stress, anxiety and depression.

“Research has demonstrated that these can suppress immune activity, at a time when patients need as much support as they can get from their immune system.

“This research is exciting as it suggests that an activity as simple as singing could reduce some of this stress-induced suppression, helping to improve wellbeing and quality of life amongst patients and put them in the best position to receive treatment.”

Tenovus Cancer Care is now launching a two year study looking in more depth at the longitudinal effect of choir singing. It will consider mental health, wellbeing, and ability to cope with cancer, alongside measuring stress hormones and immune function amongst patients, carers, staff and people who have lost somebody to cancer.