Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives

by Daisy Fancourt

A groundbreaking exposé showing how the arts—alongside diet, sleep, exercise and nature—are the forgotten fifth pillar of health

From cradle to grave, engaging in the arts has remarkable effects on our health and well-being. Music supports the architectural development of children’s brains. Artistic hobbies help our brains to stay resilient against dementia. Dance and magic tricks build new neural pathways for people with brain injuries. Arts and music act just like drugs to decrease depression, stress, and pain, reducing our dependence on medication. Going to live music events, museums, exhibitions, and the theater decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty. Engaging in the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body, even helping us to live longer.

This isn’t sensationalism, it’s the results of decades of studies gathering data from neuroimaging, molecular biomarkers, wearable sensors, cognitive assessments, and electronic health records. From professor Daisy Fancourt, an award-winning scientist and science communicator and director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, this book will fundamentally change the way you value and engage with the arts in your daily life and give you the tools to optimize how, when, and what arts you engage in to achieve your health goals. The arts are not a luxury in our lives. They are essential.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Science, Psychology, Self Help, Health, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Meike]

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2026
Let's back up my personal experience with some actual scientific facts!

[Amy Jo McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fascinating read about the impact arts has on our lives to lead a healthier and happier existence. Daisy Fancourt dives into scientific research behind the arts as a 5th pillar of health alongside diet, exercise, sleep, and nature. The arts can be consumed in a variety of ways including music, dance, drawing, painting, poetry, museums, cooking, theater, etc. From the womb to the grave, the arts play an essential role in decreasing our depression, stress, pain, and dependence on drugs. Engaging in the arts improves functioning of every major organ system — this isn’t a trend, it’s science gathered from neuroimaging, molecular biomarkers, wearable sensors, cognitive assessments, and electronic health records. I’ve always valued the arts, and it was incredibly fascinating to learn about the “why” of the arts’ importance.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a doctor myself, I wish that all healthcare professionals and policy makes would read this book and understand the incredible impact it would have if the findings were implemented as the norm.
If I suggested doing more art to many patients, I think they'd be surprised. I would love to work in a world where of course the arts would be part of healthcare. 
Daisy's work is phenomenal - the world needs more researchers like her! 

[Sarah Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

More academic than readable.

My star awarding system is
5-will read again with pleasure. Rare
4-very good read, very good effort
3- ok read, ok effort
2- author wrote a book and I read it
1- wasted my time, lazy effort
If I don’t leave a star review it means I don’t feel qualified to do so. I also didn’t star for a few years because it felt unfair, but in the absence of anything better I began starring again.

[Katie O’Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine but it rlly cemented my belief that a lot of nonfiction books these days could just be long-form essays. I got the point from the first chapter and didn’t necessarily learn anything new after that. Also, the substance misuse section was a little too far-fetched

[Orsolya · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve all heard the theories that listening to classical music can make you smarter/refine your memory, that music therapy can help your mental state of health and that viewing fine art can re-wire your brain synapses. But what if art could help heal illnesses and clinical health? What if art was incorporated by doctors into medical remedy plans and was able to help medical state systems save on hardline monetary funding? This isn’t a fictional hypothesis but is the current truth being discovered, studied and even implemented by thousands of studies worldwide and becoming the new prognosis in health. Daisy Fancourt provides an exposé in this emerging science and demonstrates how art is the fifth pillar of health alongside sleep, exercise, diet and nature in, “Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives”.

Although the science of how art can be applied to medical healing might be new to the general masses; it is one that Daisy Fancourt has been studying and experimenting for years. Fancourt is the go-to expert on the subject as a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology, the head of the Social Biobehavioral Research Group, director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, the winner of two dozen academic prizes, the publisher of 300+ scientific papers and named the World Economic Global Shaper and a BBC New Generation Thinker. There is literally no one more qualified to author such a piece as “Art Cure”. Combining elements of psychology, medical science breakthrough journalism, neuroscience, behavioral science, social science and pop science; “Art Cure” explores how the arts: “increases happiness with its associated neurotransmitters, fulfills fundamental human needs, arrives at peak moments of joy and euphoria, builds well-being and resilience, prevents and manages depression and anxiety, regulates emotions, broadens thinking, builds a sense of identity, builds cognitive reserves, enhances learning, aids neuroplasticity, trains exercise, softens stress responses, improves surgery and treatment outcomes, encourages empathy and altruism, supports heart and lung functions, strengthens the immune system, slow biological aging, and influences DNA”. Basically, art is the cure-all and the world’s strongest and most positively potent drug with little to no negative side effects!

Fancourt stylizes the chapters of “Art Cure” by journeying on each of the aforementioned benefits of art by explaining the science behind each subject, showcasing case studies and personal experiments and concluding the chapters with a sort of “how-to” summary for readers to be able to self-implement arts into their own life to reap such benefits. Fancourt effortlessly weaves a science-heavy conversation into a readable narrative with jargon that isn’t too complex for the average reader but also is not dummied down to feel insignificant. “Art Cure” is equal parts educational/informative and intriguing that can fuel verbal dialogues.

“Art Cure” impresses with its ability to truly demonstrate and convince of the benefits to public health from the arts and will have readers looking at art in fresh and new ways – but, Fancourt doesn’t just stop there. “Art Cure” methodologically proves the financial and monetary savings to patients, medical facilities and governments using concrete numerical figures and proofs that truly astonishes readers and will leave everyone questioning why art funding is usually the first to be slashed from budgets when it is literally critical and economically sound. “Art Cure” is uniquely revealing while also being cerebral.

Fancourt does hold a negative flaw of often being repetitive. As “Art Cure” progresses, much of the data seems to be recycled when attempting to convince of the benefits of art whereas the text begins to feel like filler. We got it, Fancourt! We heard you and believe you! Why are we talking about this again?! Whether this was a result of an editor not vetting out the cloudy material or Fancourt simply trying to lengthen the volume; cannot be said with conviction. The point being, this becomes quite tedious in “Art Cure”.

Being based in England means that Fancourt focuses “Art Cure” on the British system which alienates some American (and international) readers but no so much that the elements can’t be applied stateside. This is not completely detrimental to readers outside of England.

Fancourt concludes “Art Cure” with a synopsis of how readers can implement art into their personal lives, how to encourage governments and organizations to introduce art into formal health prescription plans and mentions how/where this is already being done which encourages an exploration on the subject even after the book is closed. “Art Cure” is also supplemented by a satisfyingly thick annotated notes section.

Although not perfect, “Art Cure” is an absolutely riveting subject based on definitive science that shows art can positively influence people, business, systems and existence! “Art Cure” is recommended for creative types, readers of psychology and neuroscience and those interested in the latest developments in medical science. As an added bonus: reading books is one of the proven effective ways to imbibe on the benefits of art! Reading “Art Cure” is a dose of medicine in itself!

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting but not ground breaking if you are at all familiar with, or involved in, the arts. Many benefits discussed are already self-evident and/or self-explantory and known to general society. The definition of "health" is also expansive (including some indirect influences such as child language development and identity formation) and focuses a lot on the eldery, disabled/ill and developing children, with just a few paragraphs ending each chapter about what the general population can learn from this.

As an arts lover and academic, Fancourt is preaching to the choir with me as a reader and I was ready to learn. But I didn't particularly learn anything new. It was also frustrating that all of the arts (creation and consumption; music, dance, theatre, drawing etc.) were often all lumped together by outcome, and often the main focus was just music or traditional paint/drawing art. This made lots of sections feel repetitive. Sometimes I wish she'd explored the outcomes by the benefits of the specific forms of art (e.g. creation vs consumption; how reading helps; how writing helps).
For example, creative writing and dancing - or watching dancing on stage or tv- OBVIOUSLY all influence or brain and bodies in different ways, but these differences are not explored.

I am also surprised that for a world-leading academic that this wasn't written in the most accessible way. Excessive long dragged-on paragraphs that contained multiple ideas (clearly should've been separated out) make it difficult and boring to follow (and I'm an academic who writes and reads research papers!) By the end, it was a slog to read and I kept putting it off but I just wanted it done.

It was also thoroughly disappointing that at no point did Fancourt use any illustrations to make her points clearer - e.g. an illustration/diagram/drawing of art as 5th pillar, "daily dose" advice - and would tie in with the book but fundamentally make this information more translatable and accessible for the general public (which is the book's aim). Could've even included (or linked to) an blank table for the "daily doses" she encouraged people to write in every chapter. I felt particularly disappointed in the unimaginative and inaccessible execution from a leading academic. Especially as the content itself is much shorter than the book appears due to the extensive reference list (which is excellent and transparent to provide).

Anyway, support the arts, particularly your local arts venues and artists, create more art yourself, and get your daily dose. 🎨 🎭🪡🧶🌈

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book is very heavy on the technical, which wasn't necessarily a surprise but I give it as a warning. It's a very good book and a very important book. I've always thought the arts should be considered as important as the sciences, for example. And Daisy has done a fair job at "dumbing down" the scientific explanations for the average reader, but I did find myself tuning out at times when there was a heavy section of stats, but that's felt very academic that weren't altogether ready friendly. I was going through a period of bad mental health at the time and so this book, particularly the section about arts and mental health, were of great interest. A highly interesting book, a good read. I'd definitely recommend, regardless of your creativity levels.

[Ady]

This book felt like a warm affirmation of something I have always sensed but had not fully articulated: that art is not a luxury or an extracurricular, but a daily practice that can shape our well being in real, measurable ways. As someone who loves art and feels that familiar itch to create even when the results are messy or imperfect, I found myself nodding along to so much of what the author lays out. The actionable steps for weaving creativity into everyday life were especially grounding. They made the idea of living with art feel less like an aspiration and more like a habit anyone can cultivate.

At the same time, the book reminded me that even those of us who already value the arts sometimes underestimate their depth and reach. I realized, reading this, that my own respect for the arts has grown. I had always believed in their importance, but this book made me consider just how profoundly they shape our emotional and cognitive lives. For readers who have not spent much time thinking about art’s role or who see it as optional or ornamental, I imagine this book could be quietly transformative.

My only hesitation lies in the author’s strong stance against screen based art. Throughout the book, examples of meaningful, mindful digital creativity appear again and again, yet each one is followed by a warning as though the medium itself is suspect. The comparison to highly processed food felt too rigid for me. Yes, screen based art can be passive or numbing, but it can also be intentional, skillful, and deeply nourishing. I would have loved to see that nuance explored with the same generosity the book extends to other forms of art.

Still, this was a thoughtful, energizing read that left me wanting to make more, notice more, and treat art as something woven into the fabric of daily life rather than something reserved for special occasions.

[Rachel Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arts — everything from classical music to hip-hop, ballet to salsa, from galleries to graffiti, books to films — can be a pillar of health —> We should think about, select and design arts “ingredients” and reap the benefits of arts to our health!

Key Takeaways:
- Reduced risk of / improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety; accelerated language development; reduced oversensitivity for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder; reduced risk of / recovery from dementia, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s
—> How? 1) As soon as our brains recognise or anticipate or feel mastery regarding a pleasurable arts experience, we activate the amygdala, nucleus accumbens and striatum with dopamine and emotional regulation. 2) Exposure to arts enhances synapses (connections between neurons) and increases cognitive reserve / gray matter, which combats deteriorated brain functions from disease / injury / neuroplasticity.
- The arts provide distraction / relaxation from pain through endorphins and dopamine —> Carry implications on the use of opioid drugs
- Plays and musicals elicit neural coupling and activates our amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, which facilities empathy and social learning and contributes to improvements in literacy, public health and social activism
- Singing, drumming, dancing or writing activates cytokines and white blood cells, which boost our immune systems and healing process.

Barriers to Access to the Arts
- Formal curriculum — Systemic “wipeout” of the arts for STEM subjects
- Career — Artists’ careers are financially risky and altered by the rise of streaming platforms / social media, where people focus on building their “brands” in a hyper competitive atmosphere
- Government — Funding for local arts has decreased in the US and in the UK

What should we do?
- Structure your arts engagement around times of stress to regulate emotions and change arousal levels, gain exposure to a wide variety of arts activities for different beneficiaries mechanisms,, savour and be fully present in your arts experiences
- Formalise the arts in schools and in global health programs

[Peter Tillman]

Here's the Short review from Nature's Five Best, 10 APR 2026:
"This illuminating book argues that art, “alongside diet, sleep, exercise and nature, is the forgotten fifth pillar of health”. It draws on Daisy Fancourt’s unique background as a pianist for a classical radio station before going on to run the performing-arts programme at a hospital, where she saw at first hand how creative activities support patients’ recovery. Those experiences led to a PhD in psychoneuroimmunology, with her research now providing evidence that engaging in the arts can support healthy functioning of key bodily systems."

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fascinating book about how the arts are healing to us as humans. It was packed with information like scientific data, real examples of how people used art to heal, and it really got my creative juices flowing. My love of being crafty, painting, and creating makes more sense now and this book is immensely relatable for me. I am so motivated now to continue using the arts as a form of self care and healing for myself.
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Aquila M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and convincing read about how participating in the arts, such as dancing, reading, listening to music, painting, and visiting museums, can positively impact our health and wellbeing.

Dr Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London, presents compelling evidence from a range of robust scientific studies, including clinical, neuroimaging, cognitive, and cohort studies, demonstrating how the arts in various forms can improve our physical, psychological, and social health and development.

As a topic as broad as the arts can easily lead to generalisation, I particularly appreciate how the author carefully separates the different aspects of the arts and explains how each may influence different dimensions of health and wellbeing. She also does not shy away from presenting alternative perspectives, remaining objective when discussing the results of these studies, and avoids oversimplifying or overgeneralising the findings.

That said, this book delves deeply into the science, and for readers who simply want a general overview, the title alone may have already conveyed the central idea.

My rating: 4.25/5

[Annetherese Biesiada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It scientifically supports why the arts as so essential. The arts will extend your life and improve your life. I always believed that . They can expanding our creative minds, and allowing expression to develop. Now I have book that links music Art, dance and poetry to longevity and healing.

[😼jiriguru · Rating 4 out of 5]

作者是流行病学家，也在WHO的艺术健康合作中心担任director，在艺术对人体健康影响的领域研究超过十年，积累大量研究数据，证明艺术作为辅助手段能对人的身心健康有正面影响，人体在面对艺术表现时会释放多巴胺、降低压力荷尔蒙、刺激免疫系统，无论是对疾病恢复还是对疾病预防都有显著成效。

她强调艺术不是精英阶层专属，不是只有高雅艺术才算艺术。广义的艺术可以泛指参与一切创作形式：室外涂鸦、刺绣针织、读书、看电影听音乐看演唱会、看艺术展、看剧场表演、弹奏乐器…无论是听还是看，重要的是亲自参与。每周花30-60分钟亲自参与这样广义的艺术活动，长期下来就会有健康收益。

这本书从科学方面解释艺术和健康的关系，而我在亲身经历中真的能切实体会到艺术对我潜移默化的影响。无论是博物馆美术馆，还是电影舞台剧，在前往这些场地的过程中，都会觉得身心愉悦，更不要说阅读一直是我的避风港，看书的时候头脑会冷静清醒下来，焦虑感会减少。原来这一切体验都有科学依据啊。

[miki larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art is an often overlooked and under appreciated part of our lives, but has an astronomical effect on our health and wellbeing. A fantastically thorough examination of all the ways that art has been proven to benefit our mental and physical health, in more ways than one could even imagine.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, impressed at how she managed to weave in behaviour change as well. Yes, there is a bit of repetition but it’s a fundamental principle of learning and it didn’t bother me. Obviously strongly biased as this is a big area of interest for me.

[Whitney Dahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author provides some remarkable studies to support the use of art as medicine. As an art therapist, this is not news but the extent of evidence was surprising even to me.

[Chanel Chapters]

This could have been a pamphlet

[Christina Dong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preach this book to the masses!!

[Kate Schumacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. 🫰

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art, what is it? And how can it help us living healthier lives? Daisy Fancourt sets out to answer those questions and prove that we need the arts. We’ve seen the stories about how music helps dementia patients, now we find out the research behind it. With real life stories coupled with research we discover how the arts can reduce pain, stress, depression and help with loneliness. She leaves you with your own prescription for how you can build the arts into your life. A fascinating book and one government’s need to take note of, the arts is not a nice to have, it’s as essential as a good diet, sleep, exercise and nature.

[Annikky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It is a perfectly nice book, well written and well argued. I also agree with its main point (arts are good for you), it just got repetitive. Which I understand, as the author was making a comprehensive case, I just didn’t care enough. It felt a bit too light for me personally, but it also means it’s an accessible, easy read. It’s also a good reminder to engage with arts more regularly.

[Azanique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how this books break down the transformative power, even in small doses, art can have in our lives. A fun and informative read for art lovers everywhere.

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels important & I'm sure to return to it and recommend it to others.
I struggle with various chronic conditions. I've been searching for "happiness" and maybe I had the answer all along?
Capitalist society tells us that art is meaningless, I even had an envelope packer at work laugh at my art degree. I was a straight A student at school, I didn't do art because it was my only option, I did art as it was what inspired me the most.
This book talks about the scientific importance of art, the practice of art and engaging with the arts.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-rounded examination of the benefits of art from a psychoimmunological perspective.

[Amy Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I turned the last page of this book I didn’t know whether to cry or to cheer. This is a groundbreaking case for why the arts matter, backed up by a lifetime of research (when there’s 80+ pages of notes at the end, you KNOW you’re getting straight facts). Although this definitely skews much less narrative and more ‘hard science’ than I typically like in non-fiction, my jaw was constantly on the floor reading some of the insights in here and I feel extremely well-equipped to argue with anyone who tries to tell me the arts are unimportant. I’m so glad the Women’s Prize is giving this the platform it deserves.

[⋒ Natalie (she-her) ⋒ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an NHS clinician working in mental health I am a great supporter of the arts supporting wellbeing and hugely interested in the intersection between medicine and the humanities, so I had been really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it reads more like a summary of recent research (heavily focused on music, the author’s specialist interest), and very little on the theoretical foundations or practical applications. As an academic I’m used to reading research papers, but I supposed I’d hoped for a slightly different format here. Whilst it was interesting to peruse the evidence base, I don’t really feel I’ve learned anything new, but perhaps lay people will feel differently.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn’t a bad book. But as a psychologist, this was just way too basic for me. I thought I’d learn more of the details and mechanics of art and health, instead it was basically study after study supporting good (mental) health outcomes. There were a few details I found interesting, but otherwise it was just… basic. Excellent cover tho 10/10

[Laura Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. The science on the impact of the arts on our health is a lot more extensive than I’ve thought. I did spend much of the book thinking “this is great…for rich people” and was glad she addressed that in her last chapters.