TY - JOUR
T1 - Creative support
T2 - Enhancing well-being in mild and moderate cognitive impairment through museum interventions
AU - Zakharov, Sergey
AU - Lifshitz-Ben-Basat, Adi
AU - Barak, Sharon
AU - Levi, Sharon
AU - Kermel Schiffman, Ile
AU - Maizels, Yael
AU - Springer, Shmuel
AU - Tesler, Riki
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - BackgroundThe global incidence of dementia is increasing, establishing it as a significant cause of disability and diminished quality of life. The World Health Organization underscores the necessity of enhancing the well-being of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Research has indicated that art-based interventions can improve cognitive functions and overall quality of life. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of a museum-based intervention program on the well-being (quality of life, depression, and mood) of individuals with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (MCI-moderate), which may indicate early to moderate stages of dementia that was not formally diagnosed.MethodsWe recruited 29 participants with MCI-moderate (median MoCA score: 22). The intervention group consisted of 16 individuals (11 females, 5 males; mean age 83.5 years) who attended sessions at an art museum in Israel every once a week from March to April 2023. Thirteen age-matched individuals formed the control group, which did not participate in the museum program. Measures of well-being were assessed before and after the intervention, along with collecting participants’ feedback. Well-being changes within and between-groups were analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance. Effect sizes were also calculated.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant improvements in quality of life with large effect sizes in all domains, and a significant reduction in depression symptoms; the control group experienced non-significant changes. Additionally, mood significantly improved following museum activities. Most participants positively reviewed the program, with a significant majority reporting enhanced mood (81.2%) and a strong intention to recommend it (93.7%); 62.5% expressed a desire for future participation.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that art interventions, such as museum programs, can significantly boost well-being in people with MCI-moderate, suggesting further exploration of the specific elements of such programs and their long-lasting effects.
AB - BackgroundThe global incidence of dementia is increasing, establishing it as a significant cause of disability and diminished quality of life. The World Health Organization underscores the necessity of enhancing the well-being of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Research has indicated that art-based interventions can improve cognitive functions and overall quality of life. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of a museum-based intervention program on the well-being (quality of life, depression, and mood) of individuals with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (MCI-moderate), which may indicate early to moderate stages of dementia that was not formally diagnosed.MethodsWe recruited 29 participants with MCI-moderate (median MoCA score: 22). The intervention group consisted of 16 individuals (11 females, 5 males; mean age 83.5 years) who attended sessions at an art museum in Israel every once a week from March to April 2023. Thirteen age-matched individuals formed the control group, which did not participate in the museum program. Measures of well-being were assessed before and after the intervention, along with collecting participants’ feedback. Well-being changes within and between-groups were analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance. Effect sizes were also calculated.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant improvements in quality of life with large effect sizes in all domains, and a significant reduction in depression symptoms; the control group experienced non-significant changes. Additionally, mood significantly improved following museum activities. Most participants positively reviewed the program, with a significant majority reporting enhanced mood (81.2%) and a strong intention to recommend it (93.7%); 62.5% expressed a desire for future participation.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that art interventions, such as museum programs, can significantly boost well-being in people with MCI-moderate, suggesting further exploration of the specific elements of such programs and their long-lasting effects.
KW - health promotion
KW - museum-based program
KW - non-pharmacological intervention
KW - older adults
KW - pilot study
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004896196
U2 - 10.1177/14713012251340468
DO - 10.1177/14713012251340468
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AN - SCOPUS:105004896196
SN - 1471-3012
VL - 24
SP - 1156
EP - 1176
JO - Dementia
JF - Dementia
IS - 6
ER -