A Concert Tour During the “Medicine of the Future” Science Year
A concert tour during the “Medicine of the Future” Science Year: “Notes and Neurons” brings music and brain research to the stage. (Photo: UKB; DZNE)
Starting this summer, the concert series “Notes and Neurons: Music for Brain Health” will go on tour. During six concerts, the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), UK Bonn Musik e.V., the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA), and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) will present high-level live performances alongside insights into the impact of music on the human brain and its potential to promote mental fitness. Venues include Berlin, Bonn, Dortmund, and Cologne. This event series is part of the “Science Year 2026: Medicine of the Future,” organized by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).
Lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of dementia and positively influence its progression. Music, in particular, is credited with having a beneficial effect on brain health. “In our event series, we explore the power of music from a neuroscientific perspective and demonstrate it to the audience,” explains Bernd Weber, dean of the Bonn Faculty of Medicine, which is leading the project in collaboration with the UKB. Uwe Reuter, Chairman of the Board and Chief Medical Officer of the UKB, adds: “To accomplish this, we bring live music and current brain research to the stage in a popular science format." At the same time, participation is encouraged. For instance, visitors can participate in a digital memory test. The accompanying smartphone app is already being used in doctors’ offices to detect cognitive disorders early on. In the not-too-distant future, such tech tools could become part of everyday medical practice.
Classical, Film, and Pop
The concert series covers various musical genres. Depending on the venue, different orchestras, together with the UKB Choir, present a program of classical compositions, film music, and more. “We want to arouse interest in brain research and whet the appetite for great music. We don't just play Mozart and Beethoven; we also play John Williams and Hans Zimmer,” says Theodor Rüber, the initiator of “Notes and Neurons.” The neurologist is a group leader in neuroradiology at the UKB and is also a trained conductor.
Drivers of Mental Reserve
“We can all do our part to reduce our risk of dementia. With our event series, we aim to raise awareness about prevention and motivate people to take action. There are many ways to do this, but music is a concrete starting point for prevention,” says Joachim Schultze, a systems medicine specialist and scientific director of the DZNE. “Playing an instrument, listening to music, or singing all engage the brain and can help build mental reserves, as music can lead to lasting changes in brain structure and function. When this happens in a band, orchestra, or choir, it also promotes social interaction. This has also been proven to be good for the brain and strengthen mental resilience.”
Music Professionals in the Scanner
“Notes and Neurons” will offer insights into modern technologies, particularly the possibilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the lead-up to the event, some of the participating music professionals will undergo brain scans. “We plan to present these images at our science concerts. They give us the opportunity to show the audience specific features in the brain that are likely attributable to intensive musical training,” says neurologist Theodor Rüber. Additionally, a mobile brain scanner will be used during the events. “This is a cutting-edge development in medical technology. Conventional MRI machines weigh tons, but a mobile scanner fits into an ambulance. Therefore, its use is not limited to hospitals or neurology practices. This opens up new possibilities for medical care. Such devices offer a concrete glimpse into the future of medicine.”
Aha Moments
Music is a global phenomenon that has accompanied humans—the only species for which this is true—since the Stone Age, according to archaeological findings. Music has a strong social and cultural component and a motivating effect. “In sports, the right sound can spur us on, and singing together can lift the mood. Yet music isn't really about the notes and sound waves. To a large extent, music is created in our minds. In our science concerts, we aim to convey this concept to the audience,” explains Daniela Sammler, a neuropsychologist and research group leader at the MPIEA in Frankfurt am Main. “Our goal is for all visitors to experience a few ‘aha' moments and realize why music can be good for our health.”
Contributors, Supporters, Sponsors
“Notes and Neurons: Music for Brain Health” is a joint event series organized by UKB, the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, MPIEA, and DZNE. Supporters include the companies neotiv GmbH and Hyperfine, Inc. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) is funding this series of science concerts as part of the “Science Year 2026: Medicine of the Future.” More information: www.notenundneuronen.de
About the University Hospital Bonn:
As one of Germany’s top-performing university hospitals, the UKB combines excellence in medicine and research with outstanding teaching. Each year, the UKB provides care to over half a million patients on an outpatient and inpatient basis. Around 3,500 people study medicine and dentistry here, and over 600 individuals are trained annually in healthcare professions. With approximately 9,900 employees, the UKB is the third-largest employer in the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region. The UKB ranks first among university hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia in the Focus Hospital Ranking and has the second-highest case-mix index (case severity) among university hospitals nationwide. In 2025, the UKB secured nearly 100 million Euro in third-party funding for research, knowledge transfer, and teaching. For the fourth consecutive year, the F.A.Z. Institute honored the UKB as “Germany’s Training Champion” and “Germany's Most Desirable Employer.” Current figures can be found in the annual report at geschaeftsbericht.ukbonn.de
About the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE):
The DZNE is one of the world’s leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. These diseases are associated with dementia, movement disorders, and other serious health impairments. These diseases place an enormous burden on those affected, their families, society, and the healthcare economy. The DZNE significantly contributes to developing new strategies for prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment, and nursing, as well as implementing them in practice. The DZNE has ten locations nationwide and collaborates with universities, university hospitals, and other institutions in Germany and abroad. The DZNE is publicly funded and a member of the Helmholtz Association and the German Centers for Health Research. www.dzne.de
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University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
University of Bonn
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