The Effects of Art Therapy on Executive Functions and Attention in Parkinson’s Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gómez-Soria, Isabel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Andrade Borja, Johanna Elizabeth ; Aguilar-Latorre, Alejandra (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Calatayud, Estela (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ferreira-Sánchez, María Del Rosario ; Cuenca-Zaldivar, Juan Nicolás

Resumen: Objectives

Art therapies are emerging non-pharmacological complementary treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate their effects on non-motor symptoms, motor symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and activities of daily living (ADLs) in adults aged 50 years and older with PD.
Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched from 2014 to 2025. Of 40 initially identified studies, 33 met inclusion criteria and were included in the review; 24 were incorporated in the meta-analysis using a robust variance estimator to address repeated measurements.
Results

Art therapy was associated with significant improvements in both executive functions [RVE (Mean) = 0.971, 95% CI (0.951, 0.991), Z = 50.323, p < .001] and attention [RVE (Mean) = 0.854, 95% CI (0.834, 0.874), Z = 10.892, p < .001]compared with controls in the follow-up [RVE Mean) = 0.971 95%CI(0.951, 0.991), Z = 50.323, p < .001]. In single-group studies, depressive symptoms decreased post-intervention [RVE (Mean) = 6.289, 95% CI (1.101, 11.477), Z = 10.878, p = .049] but increased again at follow-up [RVE (Mean) = 12.094, 95% CI (0.318, 23.871), Z = 10.878, p = .049] Conversely, outcomes such as freezing of gait, QoL, and PD progression at follow-up favored the control groups rather than the treatment groups
Conclusions

Evidence suggests that Art therapy may enhance executive functioning – especially at follow-up – and attention in older adults with PD. However, current evidence does not demonstrate consistent benefits in other non-motor or motor outcomes and ADLs. Brief, structured interventions (e.g. 20 sessions of 60 min, twice weekly) administered by dance instructors appear most promising. The improvements observed in control groups further underscore the potential value of active, structured interventions such as exercise or rehabilitation.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2025.2608767

Año: 2026

Publicado en: CLINICAL GERONTOLOGIST (2026), 1-28
ISSN: 0731-7115

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B21-23R-GAIAP

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Fisioterapia (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicolog.Evolut.Educac (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)