CHICAGO: Among the many benefits of art, according to a new project, is its ability to combat the negative effects of dementia. New research by the Art Gallery of New South Wales has found that dementia patients feel more joy and less anxiety when viewing art.
Engaging with the museum collection through the access program benefited patients by alleviating stress and allowing them to stay in the moment. Experiencing a heightened sense of joy when looking at the art, the dementia patients seemed to return to their former selves, especially when they were asked to appreciate a work of art rather than to struggle against their damaged abilities of recollection.