Could art therapy help people with Parkinson’s?

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Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 4 October 2018

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A new study by US researchers will investigate the impact of art therapy on Parkinson’s motor symptoms.

The study – which will be conducted by researchers at the Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, US – will focus on 40 participants, half of which have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The sessions will be led by professionals with a master’s degree in art therapy.

It is hoped the approach will help people with Parkinson’s restore functional independence and maintain a high quality of life.

Writing in the ‘Complementary Therapies in Medicine’ journal, the authors commented: “[Art therapy] could be used to improve impaired visuospatial functions in patients with PD, including visually-guided attention, shape recognition, motion perception, abstraction, sensory-motor integration, and hand-eye coordination.”

In addition, the researchers believe art therapy may help improve the emotional wellbeing of participants.

To read more on this topic click here.

For more information on art therapy and Parkinson’s please visit the EPDA website.

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