ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease ranks as the fifth leading cause of death in the country, and preventative efforts regarding cognitive impairments have been on the forefront of research efforts. Multimodal interventions, defined as a variety of interventions that stimulate affect, behavior, sensation, imagery, and interpersonal/intrapersonal relationships within regions of the brain, have proven to be extremely successful in decreasing cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults Method Method’s 12-step intervention directs the focus of therapy on a proven factor helping cognition: the reinforcement and utilization of remaining strengths, such as accessing long-term memory or controlling motor coordination. Participation within a creative and self-expressive modality has been found to enhance feelings of confidence and self-worth, leading to increased motivation for therapeutic involvement and decreased social isolation. Cognitive evaluation tests have shown that cognitive performance can be significantly impaired during depressive states.