"Art's relationship to health has been making headlines in recent weeks, and now the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is taking part in a scientific study to specifically explore whether looking at it can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Earlier this year, Dutch researchers published a study showing a ten-week course in creative arts therapy significantly reduced anxiety, increased well-being and slightly boosted cognitive function in eight people with Parkinson's, a degenerative condition of the nervous system."
"Now-thanks to a $200,000 research prize from the Michael J. Fox Foundation -a rigorous 18-month investigation will compare the effects of not experiencing art, exposing yourself to the Dutch national art collection at the Rijksmuseum and making art on people with Parkinson's. Bas Bloem, the director of the Centre of Expertise for Parkinson and Movement Disorders at Radboudumc in Nijmegen, says his theory is that artistic activity and exposure can increase dopamine, with positive effects for people with Parkinson's."
An 18-month investigation will compare no art exposure, viewing the Rijksmuseum's collection, and making art to measure effects on Parkinson's symptoms. A prior ten-week creative-arts therapy course reduced anxiety, increased well-being and slightly improved cognition in eight people with Parkinson's. Researchers hypothesize that artistic activity and exposure may raise dopamine levels and thereby alleviate motor and non-motor symptoms. Early participation linked patients with artists and a "playground" of activities; reported outcomes included reduced anxiety and stress, flow states, disappearance of tremors and dyskinesias during and after art-making, and improved mood. The study is funded by a $200,000 Michael J. Fox Foundation prize.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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