1. Painting and Cognition

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

16

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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

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

30

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

31

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

32

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

33

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

pursuits as of yet

References

[1] Valerie Leuty et al. “Engaging Older Adults with Dementia in Creative Occupations Using

39

Artificially Intelligent Assistive Technology”. In: Assistive technology : the official journal

40

of RESNA 25 (Apr. 2013), pp. 72–9. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2012.715113.

41

[2] Gill Livingston et al. “Non-pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia: system-

42

atic review of randomised controlled trials”. In: The British Journal of Psychiatry 205.6

43

(2014), pp. 436–442.

44

[3] Jennifer Rusted, Linda Sheppard, and Diane Waller. “A multi-centre randomized control

45

group trial on the use of art therapy for older people with dementia”. In: Group Analysis

46

39.4 (2006), pp. 517–536.

47

[4] Justine Schneider. “The Arts as a Medium for Care and Self-Care in Dementia: Arguments

48

and Evidence”. In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15.6

49

(2018). issn: 1660-4601. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061151. url: https:~/~/www.mdpi.com/

50

1660-4601/15/6/1151.

Wiki source code of 1. Painting and Cognition