Abstract: Two case studies demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of creative arts in dementia patients. A 75-year-old woman with mixed Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia resumed drawing after donepezil treatment, showing improved cognition and quality of life. A 78-year-old Greek man with mild dementia used music for emotional coping and cognitive enhancement. Both cases illustrate how artistic activities complement traditional medical treatments, improving well-being, communication, and cognitive function in patients with dementia through non-pharmacological interventions.
Key Words: art therapy, music therapy, dementia treatment, non-pharmacological intervention.
Creative Arts as Complementary Treatment: Art and music therapy serve as valuable non-pharmacological interventions that complement traditional dementia medications like donepezil, enhancing overall treatment outcomes.
Cognitive and Emotional Benefits: Artistic activities can improve cognitive function, reduce behavioral symptoms, enhance mood, and provide emotional outlets for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Preservation of Creative Abilities: Despite cognitive decline, patients often retain artistic and musical abilities longer than other cognitive functions, allowing for meaningful engagement and self-expression.
Quality of Life Enhancement: Creative therapies improve social interaction, reduce isolation, and maintain personhood and identity in dementia patients, contributing significantly to overall well-being beyond mere cognitive measures.
Ask About Creative Interests: During patient assessments, specifically inquire about previous artistic hobbies or musical interests, as these can be powerful therapeutic tools that patients may have forgotten they enjoyed.
Musical Memory Persists: Musical abilities and memories often remain intact longer than other cognitive functions in dementia patients, making music therapy particularly effective even in moderate to severe stages of the disease.
Focus on Residual Abilities: Design interventions around what patients can still do rather than their deficits - this approach promotes engagement, self-esteem, and therapeutic success in creative activities.
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1Geriatrician, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON. 2Social Worker, Caregiver Education & Support Services, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON.
Abstract: This report examines the relationship between table tennis and dementia through a global environmental scan and literature review. Research indicates that table tennis improves cognitive, physical, neurological, and psychological functioning in older adults, potentially slowing cognitive decline associated with dementia. The analysis presents a holistic intervention model, reviews comparable global programs, and identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for implementing table tennis programs as non-pharmaceutical interventions for dementia symptoms.
Table tennis has demonstrated neurological benefits including increased brain blood flow, hippocampal volume, and gray and white matter in regions associated with age-related degeneration.
Regular table tennis participation improves cognitive functions like inhibition, memory, and reaction time while reducing depression and improving psychological wellbeing.
The physical aspects of table tennis enhance agility, strength, and bone mineral density, making it an accessible and low-cost intervention for older adults.
A holistic approach combining cognitive, physical, psychological, and social benefits makes table tennis a promising non-pharmaceutical treatment option for dementia symptoms.
A 10-week table tennis intervention program for patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease showed measurable increases in hippocampal volume and improved scores on Mini-mental state examinations, suggesting it can be an effective complementary treatment alongside standard care.
For optimal cognitive benefits, structure table tennis sessions to incorporate cognitive challenges (such as the “go/no-go” task of choosing when to hit or not hit) rather than simple rallying, as this combination of physical and cognitive exercise produces greater improvements than either alone.
When implementing table tennis programs for dementia patients, ensure safety protocols are in place with trained staff nearby, as cognitive bias may cause participants to overestimate their physical capacity, potentially leading to falls or cardiovascular events.
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