Art Therapy in people with dementia: a rapid literature review

Introduction: dementia is a highly prevalent condition, affecting approximately 55 million people worldwide. Art therapy is identified as a non-pharmacological intervention that can offer benefits in managing dementia symptoms. The objective was to map the evidence in the existing literature about the benefits associated with art therapy on the quality of life of elderly people with dementia in a community setting. Method: a rapid literature review was conducted, addressing the PICO question, "What evidence is there about the benefits of art therapy for older adults with dementia in the community?”. CINAHL and MEDLINE databases (via EBSCOhost) were used for this study, on 23/11/2024. Reference lists of the selected articles and Google Scholar were also reviewed. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies focused on individuals aged 65 and older with dementia, involving art therapy interventions, published between 2019 and 2024, in English or Portuguese. Studies which refered to secondary dementias due to other conditions, hospital care, and programs exclusively for caregivers were excluded. Results: 8 studies were analyzed, that included music therapy, painting and visual arts, drama, and poetry. The identified benefits included improvements in the quality of life, social interaction, self-esteem, relaxation and general well-being, relief of emotional symptoms, as well as economic benefits. Conclusions: the use of art therapy is an approach that may improve quality of life and well-being. It is essential to adapt the chosen intervention to the individual's needs. This review has some limitations, such as the risk of bias due to deficits in blinding in some analyzed studies.