By Jason Echols / MSW Ccandidate at the GWB-Washington University - Art is frequently used to engage persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in creative and social activity. As Gene Cohen (2006) documents in “Research on Creativity and Aging” in Generations, engagement in art activities can have a positive impact on the health of older adults by providing opportunities for social engagement, offering a greater sense of control, and potentially increasing mental functioning. But what about the effect of art on persons experiencing a cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s? As Cohen suggests, art works in a similar manner with dementia by emphasizing the individual’s skills, strengths, and quality of life. In her book When Words Have Lost Their Meaning, Ruth Abraham (2005) notes how art therapy with persons with dementia can act as an intervention in the moment that bypasses verbal communication. It provides an opportunity for the participant to interact with the world, reinforcing the individual’s concept of personhood.

There are several model programs for integrating art into work with persons with dementia. The Memories in the Making® Art Program, from the Orange County, CA chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, gives persons with Alzheimer’s the tools and guided instruction to paint memories, creating art which is placed on display in community exhibits. The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) Alzheimer’s Project offers special in-depth, interactive tours for persons with dementia on days when the museum is closed to the public, making the act of viewing and appreciating art therapeutic. Locally, the St Louis chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has offered art programs for persons with early stage Alzheimer’s through its Think Tank program, including life review through collages, basic painting classes, and music therapy with drumming and singing. Beginning in spring 2010, the Think Tank classes will be offered through local adult day programs.

Empirical studies examining the effectiveness of art programs for persons with dementia are needed. Existing studies indicate positive outcome, but most are anecdotal or do not use control or comparison groups. Several of the above programs are being evaluated, including the MoMA project. In “Observed Well-Being Among Individuals with Dementia” published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, Kinney and Rentz (2005) studied a Memories in the Making program in Cincinnati and found that the artist participants exhibited greater pleasure, higher self-esteem, more interest, and sustained attention than participants in traditional adult day activities. In general, more research is needed to support the anecdotal evidence that art therapy works for persons with dementia.

For more information: contact the St Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (314.432.3422) for local adult day programs offering Think Tank programs; request the Memories in the Making® Program Manual by contacting Marilyn Lorey (marilyn.lorey@alz.org); download the MoMA Alzheimer's Project Guide for Museums at www.moma.org/alzheimersproject; and visit www.creativeaging.org for more on the intersection of arts and aging services.