Emory University has received a $200,000 grant from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America to support research into how artistic engagement may benefit brain health and emotional well-being. The initiative is led by Monica W. Parker, MD, who oversees outreach, recruitment, and engagement at Emory’s Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center within the Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute.
The funding will facilitate a new collaboration between the Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), and Performance Hypothesis. This partnership is part of the Arts + Health Laboratory: Georgia’s NeuroArts Coalition, which was announced in October by the Woodruff Arts Center. The coalition brings together academic institutions, community organizations, and nonprofits to study how participation in the arts can improve both brain function and overall health. The findings are intended to inform efforts to expand access to arts-based programs in schools, healthcare settings, and communities throughout Georgia.
Shirley Fields, a research participant at the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and member of its Community Coalition, commented on the project: “This began with a simple wish — to bring people together through art and music while helping them learn about the brain. Music reaches parts of us that words can’t. By partnering with Emory and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, we’re showing that brain science is for everyone — not just researchers.”
The research aims to better understand how arts-based interventions might help maintain or restore brain health across different stages of life. It will also look at how engaging with music could enhance emotional well-being and social connection among people living with cognitive changes as well as their care partners.
Allan Levey, MD, PhD, executive director of Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute stated: “The intersection of neuroscience and the arts represent one of the most promising frontiers in brain health. Through this partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, we are translating science into human experience — studying how creative engagement can strengthen connection, lift mood and potentially slow the effects of cognitive decline. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that reflects Emory’s mission to improve lives through innovation and community.”
To mark the start of this collaboration, program participants attended a “Christmas with the ASO” concert in December hosted by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The event provided an opportunity for participants to experience live orchestral music while contributing to ongoing research.
For additional details about upcoming performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra or ticket information, interested individuals can visit their website.
The Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute focuses on advancing prediction, prevention, and treatment related to brain health through innovative research strategies. It is part of Emory University.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra offers more than 150 concerts annually under Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann and features collaborations with its Grammy Award-winning chorus.
Performance Hypothesis is an internationally recognized evaluation firm based in Atlanta that works globally to advance recognition of arts as measurable contributors to health outcomes.
