Is Art the Missing Fifth Pillar of Health?
Art by Sergio Gomez
What if I told you that making art literally changes your DNA?
For many of us, creating is a necessity, but we often struggle to articulate why it feels so vital. In a world that often treats creativity as a luxury or a hobby, we finally have the "validation ammunition" we’ve been waiting for.
In this episode of the Create! Podcast, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Daisy Fancourt, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London. Her groundbreaking research proves what we as artists have always felt but struggled to quantify: Art is essential medicine.
Moving Beyond the Four Pillars
We are all familiar with the traditional pillars of health: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Stress Management. But Daisy’s research suggests it’s time to officially recognize a Fifth Pillar: Creative Engagement.
Through her work and her brand-new book, Art Cure, Daisy presents decades of evidence showing that engaging with art creates measurable health benefits that accumulate over time. This isn't just about "feeling good"—it's about clinical biological changes.
In this episode, we dive into:
The DNA of Creativity: How making art influences gene expression and helps downregulate the nervous system.
The "Art Cure": Why the arts are being used in clinical settings to manage pain, reduce anxiety, and boost immune response.
Validation for Your Practice: Why your work is a necessity for your collectors and the world, especially during turbulent times.
Longevity & Art: How a consistent creative practice can actually slow the pace of biological aging.
About the Guest
Daisy Fancourt is a professor at University College London and a leading expert on the effects of social and cultural assets on health. Her research provides a bridge between the world of fine art and the world of science, proving that our "Creative Life Force" is a fundamental requirement for a healthy human life.
Resources Mentioned:
Get the Book: Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt
Follow Daisy’s Work: UCL Research Group
Join Our Community: The Create! Collective Newsletter
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