1. Painting and Cognition

author	version	line-number	content
		1	Individuals with dementia experience deteriorating cognitive abilities that hold them back from
		2	performing activities that define their individuality and hence reduce their quality of life. For
		3	people with dementia, participation in a meaningful occupation can promote quality of life (QoL),
		4	facilitate communication and emotional expression, and enhance personal relationships [1]. Cre-
		5	ating art can help people with dementia to express emotions, memories, and ideas that may
		6	be difficult to put into words. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose, and
		7	can help to alleviate boredom and social isolation. Although studies on art’s effects on the
		8	brain are limited, research suggests that artistic engagement may help to ease common behav-
		9	ioral symptoms of dementia like anxiety, agitation and depression[2][3]. Additionally, several
		10	testimonies illustrate that creative processes are used to evoke memories, enable people to com-
		11	municate about their experience [9], to reinforce identity , and to strengthen relationships with
		12	their own family members, as well as with care personnel and others involved in the intervention
		13	process[4]. However it is to note that people without formal art training can participate in art
		14	related activities after being diagnosed with dementia.
		15	Painting in specific have shown to be beneficial in terms of reducing stress, improving expres-
		16	siveness of an individual and helping them manage their emotions.The advantages are consid-
		17	erably larger for elders suffering from dementia. Brain stimulation might deteriorate over time
		18	if it is not consistently engaged. Painting demands concentration, which has significant benefits
		19	for elders suffering from dementia. Painting, in reality, activates multiple regions and lobes of
		20	the brain at the same time by activating both sides of the brain. Painting can help adults with
		21	dementia make relationships and foster hobbies that might pierce through the cloud of memory
		22	loss. However, this is based on the assumption that individuals with dementia are willing to and
		23	can produce art and don’t have disabilities that hinder this activity.
		24	To aid patients of dementia using the help of art, the right level of intervention and skill of
		25	the facilitator is necessary. Professionally trained artist may be unfamiliar with persons with
		26	dementia, whereas an activity coordinator with dementia expertise may only have a rudimentary
		27	grasp of the art they are enabling. While there is advancement in assistive technology for leisure
		28	and cultural or arts-based activities,as of 2018, very few devices have been dedicated to these
		29	pursuits as of yet
		30	1

1

Individuals with dementia experience deteriorating cognitive abilities that hold them back from

2

performing activities that define their individuality and hence reduce their quality of life. For

3

people with dementia, participation in a meaningful occupation can promote quality of life (QoL),

4

facilitate communication and emotional expression, and enhance personal relationships [1]. Cre-

5

ating art can help people with dementia to express emotions, memories, and ideas that may

6

be difficult to put into words. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose, and

7

can help to alleviate boredom and social isolation. Although studies on art’s effects on the

8

brain are limited, research suggests that artistic engagement may help to ease common behav-

9

ioral symptoms of dementia like anxiety, agitation and depression[2][3]. Additionally, several

10

testimonies illustrate that creative processes are used to evoke memories, enable people to com-

11

municate about their experience [9], to reinforce identity , and to strengthen relationships with

12

their own family members, as well as with care personnel and others involved in the intervention

13

process[4]. However it is to note that people without formal art training can participate in art

14

related activities after being diagnosed with dementia.

15

Painting in specific have shown to be beneficial in terms of reducing stress, improving expres-

16

siveness of an individual and helping them manage their emotions.The advantages are consid-

17

erably larger for elders suffering from dementia. Brain stimulation might deteriorate over time

18

if it is not consistently engaged. Painting demands concentration, which has significant benefits

19

for elders suffering from dementia. Painting, in reality, activates multiple regions and lobes of

20

the brain at the same time by activating both sides of the brain. Painting can help adults with

21

dementia make relationships and foster hobbies that might pierce through the cloud of memory

22

loss. However, this is based on the assumption that individuals with dementia are willing to and

23

can produce art and don’t have disabilities that hinder this activity.

24

To aid patients of dementia using the help of art, the right level of intervention and skill of

25

the facilitator is necessary. Professionally trained artist may be unfamiliar with persons with

26

dementia, whereas an activity coordinator with dementia expertise may only have a rudimentary

27

grasp of the art they are enabling. While there is advancement in assistive technology for leisure

28

and cultural or arts-based activities,as of 2018, very few devices have been dedicated to these

29

pursuits as of yet

30

1

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