Assessing the Role of Painting in Enhancing Cognitive Function in Dementia Patients

Andalucia Luvrien

August 4th, 2025

Edited by the YNPS Publications Team.

Abstract 

The increasing prevalence of dementia due to demographic and lifestyle changes has heightened interest in therapeutic approaches to improve cognitive function. This literature review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of painting as a form of art therapy for enhancing cognitive abilities in individuals with dementia. Relevant empirical studies were selected based on keywords such as “painting,” “cognitive function,” and “dementia,” focusing primarily on literature from the past decade. Findings suggest that while painting offers meaningful engagement, such as improvements in memory, the current evidence still remains limited. However, painting is a promising complementary intervention that supports emotional expression and quality of life in dementia care. Future research is needed to confirm its efficacy and optimize therapeutic protocols. 

Introduction 

There are over 10 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide, implying one new case every 3.2 seconds. Its rise, caused by high populations, is linked to genetic factors, as well as high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and poor mental health. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is not a single disease. It’s best characterized as a collection of symptoms that one may experience if they are living with a variety of diseases. It is common for multiple diseases to contribute to any one patient’s dementia syndrome (Gale, Acar, & Daffner, 2018). 

Art therapy is a form of therapy, like any other kind, that helps to improve psychological difficulties. This particular therapy involves the creative power of oneself, which can circulate the words that cannot be explained. Each expression towards art could be understood further by a certified art therapist to help them acknowledge it. It’s not about how good the art is; rather, it is the way they express it and the process of making it. Art therapy is a powerful treatment and it’s widely used for a range of psychological issues and enhancing the brain. The arts (e.g., music and painting) have received a considerable amount of theoretical and observational support as cognitive stimulation techniques for persons living with dementia (Assen et al., 2022). Engagement in painting offers more than mere artistic satisfaction; it represents a dynamic cognitive exercise that activates multiple brain regions and fosters mental agility. The complexity of painting requires motor coordination, which stimulates neural pathways involved in memory, attention, and executive functioning. Current evidence suggests that regular participation in creative activities like painting can enhance memory retention and slow age‐related cognitive decline. These benefits make painting a compelling focus in the pursuit of non-pharmacological strategies for improving cognitive health, particularly among older adults and populations at risk for dementia. 

Methods 

This literature review employs a systematic approach to comprehensively understand the role of painting in enhancing cognitive function among individuals living with dementia. Relevant studies were selected based on their alignment with the research topic using keywords such as “painting,” “cognitive function,” and “dementia.” The review specifically aims to evaluate the effectiveness of painting as a therapeutic intervention for improving cognitive abilities in dementia patients by synthesizing empirical evidence from recent and past studies. 

Discussion 

Current high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of art therapy for individuals living with dementia still remains inconclusive. A recent systematic review identified only a small number of randomized controlled trials evaluating art therapy’s impact on cognition, with no significant differences observed compared to active control interventions. The overall quality of the evidence was rated as very low, primarily due to small sample variation in intervention delivery across studies. This lack of consistent, robust data suggests that while art therapy is widely embraced in clinical and community settings for its perceived benefits, its direct effectiveness in improving cognition or reducing behavioral symptoms in dementia has yet to be clearly demonstrated. Additionally, many of the outcomes typically measured, such as standardized cognitive tests or behavioral scales, may not fully capture the subjective benefits of quality of life improvements that art therapy can foster. Therefore, art therapy should be considered a complementary, person-centered practice that offers meaningful experiences and psychosocial support rather than a guaranteed therapeutic intervention for cognitive decline. To strengthen the evidence base, future research must employ larger, well-designed trials with standardized protocols and a combination of quantitative and qualitative outcomes, as well as consider variations by dementia subtype and severity. Until then, caregivers and clinicians are advised to incorporate art therapy thoughtfully within holistic care plans, acknowledging its potential to enrich the lived experience of people with dementia even if measurable cognitive benefits remain uncertain. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the current evidence suggests that art therapy, including painting, could play a supportive role in enhancing cognitive function among individuals living with dementia. However, findings from recent high-quality studies and systematic reviews remain limited regarding its direct effectiveness as a primary intervention. While some research highlights potential benefits in areas such as memory, the overall quality of these findings is hampered by small sample sizes and variability in intervention protocols. Nevertheless, painting remains a meaningful activity that may support psychosocial well-being and offer valuable engagement in dementia care settings. Future research should prioritize larger, methodologically rigorous trials to better establish the specific benefits of painting for cognitive health in this population.

Works Cited

Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). What is dementia? Symptoms, causes & treatment. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia 

Alzheimer’s Disease International. (n.d.). Dementia statistics. https://www.alzint.org/about/dementia-facts-figures/dementia-statistics

Assen, A., Bouman, D., Smith, K., & Fagan, B. (2022). Painting for a purpose: A visual arts program as a method to engage persons living with dementia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(4), 1867–1881. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-21-00300 

Frontiers in Psychology. (2023). Visual art therapy and cognitive decline in dementia: Review and discussion. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1232357/full 

Gale, S. A., Acar, D., & Daffner, K. R. (2018). Dementia. The American Journal of Medicine, 131(10), 1161–1169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.01.022 

Livingston, G., et al. (2018). Art therapy for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (10), CD011073. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011073.pub2 

Nichols, E., Lim, C. C. W., & Niu, H. (2022). Impact of dementia: Health disparities, population trends, care interventions, and economic costs. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(S2), S1–S17. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17612 

NYU Langone Health. (2021, April 8). United States dementia cases estimated to double by 2060. https://nyulangone.org/news/united-states-dementia-cases-estimated-double-2060