Document Type
Article
Publication Title
MRS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Literature
Abstract
Dementia represents a global public health crisis, characterized not only by progressive memory loss but by a pervasive decline in cognitive flexibility, social functioning, and overall quality of life. Traditional therapeutic modalities, often limited to pharmacological management and cognitive training, have yielded only modest gains in symptom mitigation and patient well-being. Recent advances in neuroscience have illuminated the brain‘s capacity for neuroplasticity—its inherent ability to adapt, reorganize, and form new neural connections even in advanced age and the presence of neurodegenerative conditions. This emerging understanding invites a critical re-evaluation of dementia care strategies, highlighting the potential of non-pharmacological interventions to target underlying neural mechanisms. Within this context, art-enriched environments and playful, multisensory engagement have gained empirical support as vehicles for fostering neuroplasticity, enhancing mood, and strengthening social bonds among individuals with dementia. The need for innovative approaches is underscored by the multidimensional and progressive nature of dementia, which demands holistic interventions addressing cognitive, emotional, and social domains simultaneously. The significance of this study lies in its synthesis of interdisciplinary research from neuroscience, psychology, and the arts, proposing a comprehensive framework for integrating structured artistic and play-based activities into dementia care. Through advancing methodologies that leverage art to stimulate neuroplasticity, this research seeks not only to inform clinical practice but also to inspire further inquiry into scalable, person-centered interventions that may slow cognitive decline, improve quality of life, and transform the therapeutic landscape for dementia patients and their caregivers.
Publication Date
6-2025
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Hutson, Piper and Hutson, James, "Art, Play, and Neuroplasticity: Advancing Dementia Care Through Art-Enriched Environments" (2025). Faculty Scholarship. 742.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/faculty-research-papers/742