Arts and Noncommunicable Diseases

The Lab commissioned two studies focused on the role of the arts in addressing the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in response to the accelerating interest in the demonstrated benefits of the arts in individual and population health, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Scope

Bringing together 26 researchers from institutions around the world, this series will present new and existing research, and offer recommendations for the integration of the arts into health-promotion programs, and for the treatment and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are responsible for 74% of premature deaths worldwide, and a leading cause of disability. 

The series builds on recommendations from the foundational  2019 WHO report containing  evidence for the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing. It also draws on a subsequent 2023 WHO report articulating that arts interventions are multi-modal, non-invasive, low-risk, and cost-effective ways to aid in the prevention and management of NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic illness, neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and mental health. 

Project team

These 2 studies are overseen by Dr. Nisha Sajnani (The Lab, NYU Steinhardt) and led by Jill Sonke, Michael Koon Boon Tan, Martina deWitte, and Joke Bradt. The project team consists of researchers and artists from Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, Israel, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, and the US.

Support for this project is provided by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab.

Photo Credit - Sistema Scotland.

Categories