Research Overviewart therapy

Art Therapy and Dementia: A Review of the Research

As verbal communication becomes more difficult with advancing dementia, art therapy offers an alternative pathway for expression and connection. This review examines the evidence.

By Gyfts Editorial Team 21 April 2025

Reviewed by Dr. Ava Gardner · Integrative Medicine Researcher12 March 2026Emerging evidence

Art Therapy and Dementia: A Review of the Research — holistic health

Photo by Eugenia Pan'kiv on Unsplash

Quick answer

As verbal communication becomes more difficult with advancing dementia, art therapy offers an alternative pathway for expression and connection. This review examines the evidence.

Key Takeaways

•Art therapy is one of the most studied non-pharmacological interventions for dementia.
•Evidence shows improvements in wellbeing, quality of life, and behavioural symptoms.
•Creative capacity often persists well into dementia, even when verbal communication is severely impaired.
•Group art therapy in care settings has the most evidence.
•NICE guidelines on dementia recommend non-pharmacological approaches for behavioural symptoms.
•It should complement, not replace, medical management of dementia.

Why Art Therapy for Dementia?

Dementia progressively impairs verbal communication, episodic memory, and executive function — the capacities most talking therapies rely on. This creates a significant gap in psychological support for one of the fastest-growing populations requiring care. Art therapy offers an approach that does not depend on verbal fluency or intact memory.

Cochrane Review Evidence

A 2018 Cochrane review of art therapy for dementia found evidence of benefit for cognitive symptoms and, in one trial, significant reduction in neuropsychiatric symptoms — the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia including agitation, anxiety, and depression. Evidence quality was rated as low due to small samples, but the reviewers concluded that larger trials are warranted given the safety profile.

The Wellbeing Evidence

Qualitative research documents important wellbeing dimensions: moments of flow and absorption in creative activity, non-verbal communication between participants, expressions of identity and aesthetic preference that persist even when verbal self-expression is severely limited, and a quality of engagement and aliveness that carers and practitioners describe as distinct from usual care interactions.

Implementation in Care Settings

Group art therapy in care homes is the most pragmatic and most-studied implementation. Sessions need to be shorter (30–45 minutes), more structured, and carefully paced. Training and supervision of care staff in arts-based approaches can extend the reach of art therapy beyond formal sessions — preserving the dignity and agency of residents through creative participation.

Evidence Context

moderate

Moderate evidence from systematic reviews supports art therapy for quality of life, reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms, and supporting wellbeing in people with dementia. A 2018 Cochrane review found evidence of benefit for cognitive symptoms and behaviour.

Safety & Considerations

Art therapy for people with dementia requires adapted approaches and practitioner training in dementia care. Sessions should be shorter and more structured. Ensure dignity and choice at all times.

Who May Benefit

People with mild to moderate dementia
Care home staff seeking non-pharmacological approaches
Family carers supporting relatives with dementia

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone with advanced dementia do art therapy?

Yes, with appropriate adaptation. Even in advanced dementia, sensory and emotional responses to creative materials remain accessible. Practitioners with dementia care training adapt their approach accordingly.

Why does creative capacity persist in dementia?

Creative and aesthetic processing involves neural networks often less affected in early to moderate dementia than those supporting language and explicit memory. Some people with dementia produce more expressive, uninhibited artwork than before their diagnosis.

Written by

Gyfts Editorial Team

Editorial team at Gyfts researching holistic health modalities.

Reviewed by

Dr. Ava Gardner

Integrative Medicine Researcher

MB BCh BAO, MSc Integrative Medicine, MRCGP

Dr. Ava Gardner is a Dublin-based integrative medicine physician with over 15 years of clinical experience bridging conventional general practice and evidence-based complementary care. She holds a Masters in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona and has worked extensively in chronic pain management, women's hormonal health, and mind-body medicine. Dr. Gardner reviews health content for Gyfts to ensure clinical accuracy, balanced evidence presentation, and responsible safety guidance across modality and condition pages.

View full profile →