Art Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Many families struggle everyday, dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease since no cure has been found and treatments are limited. Currently, there are 5.7 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). According to the National Institute on Aging (2018), Alzheimer’s disease is, “an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.” Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, art therapy has been used as an alternative method to pharmacological treatments for symptom management. Art therapy, “uses art media, the creative process and the resulting artwork as a therapeutic and healing process” (Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc., 2019). The purpose of this Evidence Based Practice brief is to compare the symptom management of patients with Alzheimer’s disease who utilize art therapy versus patients who don’t. The findings of this brief will be utilized to educate patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers on a possible non-pharmacological option for symptom management.