Art Cure reveals how the arts function as a fifth pillar of health alongside diet, sleep, exercise, and nature. Drawing on decades of scientific research, author Daisy Fancourt—director of the WHO's Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, demonstrates how music, dance, visual arts, and live cultural experiences strengthen brain development, build resilience against dementia, reduce depression and pain, and extend lifespan. From neuroimaging to molecular biomarkers, the evidence is clear: engaging with the arts improves every major organ system and decreases loneliness and frailty. Shortlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, this groundbreaking book shows that the arts are not a luxury, they are essential medicine.
