HOUSTON: A new collaboration between the Brain and Mind Centre, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and Alzheimer’s Australia NSW will lead a groundbreaking study on the impact of art on people living with dementia.
Head of the Centre’s Healthy Brain Aging Program, Professor Sharon Naismith, said the study would examine the impact that learning art can have on the brain, particularly visuospatial cognitive skills and memory.
“However, there has been no substantial research to date, to evaluate art’s impact on cognitive performance, and therefore if art can have a beneficial impact on people living with dementia,” Professor Naismith said.
The MCA runs an Art & Dementia Program which offers creative hands-on activities for people with dementia.
The Healthy Brain Aging team will study 120 participants, aged under 75 and living with dementia, as they participate in a 10 week combined MCA facilitated and at-home art program.