Art stirs emotions in most people who view it, but for people with dementia, it can do more, improving brain function and symptoms of depression, new research has found.
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People living with dementia experience low levels of cortisol - the body's stress hormone - when they wake up and it flatlines throughout the day, indicating decreased resilience, increased agitation and cognitive impairment, University of Canberra PhD candidate Nathan D'Cunha said.
He recruited 28 people with dementia from local aged care homes to view and discuss paintings in small groups at the National Gallery of Australia.
He tested their saliva during the six-week program and six weeks after it ended.
Normally, cortisol levels are high right after waking up, then drop throughout the day and bottom out at bedtime. In people living with dementia, cortisol flatlines at a medium level. But for those who did the program, their cortisol showed much steeper, more dynamic changes through the day. Participants also reported an improvement in depressive symptoms.
The cortisol effect was gone six weeks later, suggesting the need to keep the art trips up.
"I met them at age care facility and then the gallery and there was a big difference. At the aged care facility they were a bit depressed, sometimes quite depressed, but at the gallery, the were thrilled. For some the change was incredibly dramatic," Mr D'Cunha said.
In the sessions, people sit in custom built chairs, which fully support their body, for hour-long discussions of a particular painting.
Mr D'Cunha said art activated different parts of the brain, bringing negative as well as positive reactions, and stimulating memories.
"You don't have to like the art to enjoy discussing it, it's important for people with dementia to have their views accepted. Not liking the art actually helps to stimulate the brain and get them thinking critically," Mr D'Cunha said.
This is the first long term study into the link between art and living with dementia. Dementia Australia estimates 250 people join the population with dementia each day.
The gallery's program for people with dementia was developed with clinical psychologists as a pilot in 2007, but program producer Adriane Boag knew immediately that it needed to be continued.
"The enjoyment of the participants was so great, it was a no brainer, everyone was like no we're not going to stop coming," Ms Boag said.
Ms Boag said people usually begin to interpret the painting through their own life experiences and from there they begin to work out what the painting is about.
"We find that people develop their appreciation of art. That shows us that people with dementia are capable of learning," she said.
The program had been running for more than 10 years when the study to find physiological proof of the benefits of art on dementia began.
"We often hear this is the place where they forget about their diagnosis. It's about distraction, they're looking at something external to themselves. They're not thinking about themselves or worrying about the future, they are immersed."
Mr D'Cunha said some carers told him the program had helped people with dementia stay at home and remain independent for longer, and they were much happier.
The gallery also runs programs for mental health recovery, carers, the hearing impaired, people with low vision and people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
