On the effects of music on the immune system There’s some evidence that music actually reduces some of the inflammatory proteins that are floating around in our bodies. Music reduces the stress hormone cortisol; it also increases oxytocin, which has very important cardiovascular benefits. It also helps to control diet and sugar loads. When I used to play in this rock and roll band, we’d have a whole bunch of 70-year-olds dancing for 3 hours – we should’ve got money from the health department because they were exercising, they were listening to the music they loved, and they were in a beautiful social context. We ticked all the boxes of what is good for someone’s physical and mental wellbeing.