Art does this for everyone.....
A study commissioned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales has found viewing art creates a heightened sense of joy for people with dementia, alleviating anxiety by allowing them to stay in the moment.
The study specifically examined the gallery's art access program, which invites people living with dementia and their carers to view and discuss iconic works in the collection.
The program has been running since 2010, and was created off the back of a similar project at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
While dementia impacts memory, emotions remain intact, and the head of learning and participation at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Heather Whitely-Robertson, said the study found art allowed people with dementia to tap into their imagination.
"What was really striking was the observed significance of what we would call in the moment pleasure that participants were able to demonstrate in their program," she said.