Designing evidence-based creative arts programs to maintain healthy brains and minds in older adults

Designing evidence-based creative arts programs to maintain healthy brains and minds in older adults


Our multi-disciplinary University of Newcastle research team has secured a $75,000 Dementia Australia Research Foundation grant to run a creative arts research project with older adults.

Keeping active in later life is important for maintaining social, cognitive and emotional wellbeing as well as delaying or preventing the onset of dementia. Creative arts activities offer a promising approach to engage thinking, emotions, creativity and imagination; and complement physical activity to promote wellbeing in older adulthood.

The interdisciplinary team comprising Associate Professor Helen English, Dr Sharon Savage, Dr Michelle Kelly and Professor Frini Karayanidis will run a comparative research study investigating the effects of art making and song writing on brain, cognitive and emotional processes in older adults. The aim is to identify the important ingredients of creative activity programs that drive benefits in wellbeing.