Art and Music Therapy in the Treatment of Dementia

Dementia is a progressive degenerative brain disease that affects mainly senior people, and unfortunately, the number of patients is increasing every year. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050, the number of patients with dementia in the world will be 139 million. According to the same organization, every 3 seconds in the world is diagnosed with dementia. This disease has yet to be fully researched, and many studies and articles have been devoted. You, too, can contribute to the research on this topic. If you ask for help from professional writers, for example, from grademiners, you can find a relevant and interesting topic for your student or personal project.

There are many approaches to the treatment of dementia. New drugs are being developed, and experimental procedures have been conducted. At the same time, many scientists argue that a hugely supportive and effective alternative way of treatment, such as, for example, therapy with animals or art and music therapy, which we will discuss in detail.

Art Therapy and Its Methods

Art is a great power, and it is impossible to argue with it. Paintings and music can inspire, uplift your spirit, and make you work more productively. In the early 20th century, such a concept as art therapy began to appear. Doctors noticed that patients who are fond of drawing find it much easier to cope with pain and have a better mood. By the middle of the century, such a direction was formed as art therapy, which began to be used to help treat many physical and mental diseases. In the case of dementia, art therapy is a great way to keep the body mentally active and motorized.

Drawing, creating collages, or molding clay dishes engages the brain's large resource capacity and, at the same time, slows the progression of dementia as it forces the brain to work in an exploring and creating mode. In addition, drawing is an extra way to communicate for patients who suffer from speech impairments. Art can serve as an optional way of communication. Therefore, art therapy is important for treating dementia and keeping patients active.

The main techniques of art therapy are:

• Drawing: Patients with dementia can express their emotions through colors and shapes, which helps them connect with their feelings and reduces their anxiety levels.
• Modeling: Working with clay or other materials can help develop fine motor skills, as well as promote concentration and improve cognitive function.
• Creating collages: This method stimulates memory as patients select images related to their personal memories. Collecting images also helps develop planning and organization abilities.

The main advantage of art therapy is that patients can express their emotions even when suffering from speech impairment. Through these techniques, they can maintain communication with family and friends.

The Impact of Art Therapy on Dementia Patients

Art therapy is not for nothing considered one of the best supportive methods for seniors to prolong active life. Many studies have proven that art therapy helps maintain brain function and consequently improves quality of life. It directly impacts emotional well-being and the maintenance of cognitive and executive functions.

Art therapy also helps in preventing psychological and mental health problems that often accompany dementia patients. Anxiety and depression are major mental problems that haunt dementia patients, and art therapy helps to deal with them. Drawing or other art activities help to distract from negative thoughts, and the works created prove to patients that they can still create fully.

Music Therapy to Support Dementia Patients

Courses in music therapy first appeared in the university and college curricula of the United States, beginning with the University of Michigan, as early as 1944. In 1950, the National Association for Music Therapy, the first major professional organization for music therapists, came into being. Today, music therapy actively finds applications in several supportive therapies, like dementia care, for music actively influences the areas of the human brain responsible for emotion and memory.

There are two major approaches to music therapy:

• Active music therapy is based on the patient's active participation in creating music. The patient is invited to feel like a real artist and, under the guidance of an experienced therapist, write one song, compose the words for a melody, or sing an existing favorite hit. This approach stirs cognitive processes and improves memory and attention.
• Passive music therapy refers to the selection of music that initiates good feelings in a patient and leads to reflective thoughts. Playing their reflective music frequently provides an opportunity for the patient to reflect on and think about the music, hence reducing anxiety and improving the mood and general well-being.

Like smells, music is among the greatest memory stimulants. Music therapy helps patients remember the best moments of their lives and elevates the mood when the brain starts working actively, directly having a therapeutic effect.

Synergy of Art and Music Therapy

Art and music therapy are generally used in parallel institutions for the elderly and comprehensive dementia care. Art therapy helps patients express emotions through visual images, while music therapy activates memories and improves mood. The combined use of these techniques contributes to significant improvements in patients' cognitive and emotional performance.

Simultaneously, using art and music therapy also helps patients stay socially active. Since these sessions are usually group activities, participation in them allows patients to stay active and not suffer from loneliness, boosting their mood and positively affecting their emotional and hormonal levels.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia, and it is impossible to completely eliminate this disease at this stage of scientific development. Nevertheless, by applying all known medication courses and adding art and music therapy to them, doctors and nursing home staff have significantly improved the quality of life of patients with dementia, allowing them to remain active and positive.