Sacred music isn’t just a spiritual experience; it’s a brain booster, according to neuroscientist Kathlyn Gan. In a captivating talk at St. Francis de Sales in Burnaby, Ontario, on October 30, 2025, Gan revealed how music can be a powerful tool for brain health. With a background in choir direction and accompaniment, and a doctorate from Simon Fraser University, Gan presented her research on the neuroscience of sacred music. She emphasized that music isn’t just a passive activity; it actively engages multiple brain regions, stimulating pathways that regulate memory, movement, reward, emotion, and empathy. This engagement can help keep our minds sharp and foster social connections, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Gan’s research also highlights the therapeutic benefits of music, particularly in mid- to late-stage Alzheimer’s patients. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s innovative program, where doctors prescribe music as medicine, showcases the potential for music to improve behavioral issues and encourage social interaction. However, Gan acknowledges the challenge of proving sacred music’s unique benefits due to subjective perceptions and varying spiritual depth among listeners and musicians. Despite this, she believes that listening to or performing sacred music can deepen one’s faith and love for God. Gan’s own music ministry, which includes performances with her piano students in retirement homes and music therapy programs, exemplifies how sacred music can be a form of prayer, fostering spiritual growth and a deeper appreciation for the human mind’s capacity for mirroring Christ’s virtues.