Objectives: The present study explores the effect of visual art training on people with dementia, utilizing a randomized control trial design, in order to investigate the effects of an 8-week visual art training program on cognition. In particular, the study examines overall cognition, delayed recall, and working memory, which show deficits in people with dementia.
Method: Fifty-three individuals with dementia were randomly assigned into either an art training (n = 27) or usual-activity waitlist control group (n = 26). Overall cognition and delayed recall were assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and working memory was assessed with the Backward Digit Span task.
Results: There were no group differences in overall cognition, or working memory, while a difference in delayed recall was undetermined, based on post-test-pre-test difference scores. Groups were comparable at baseline on all measures.
Conclusion: The measures of cognition, delayed recall, and working memory used in this study were not affected by an 8-week visual art training program.
Clinical trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03175822.
Keywords: art; cognition; delayed recall; dementia; working memory.
Copyright © 2020 Johnson, D’Souza and Wiseheart.