{"id":24707,"date":"2016-01-21T10:43:45","date_gmt":"2016-01-21T16:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=24707"},"modified":"2016-01-21T10:45:41","modified_gmt":"2016-01-21T16:45:41","slug":"painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson’s , Alzheimer’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Talia Beechick<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Renee Le Verrier saw her first-grade son Pedro paint for the first time 10 years ago, \u00a0she decided to give it a try, despite recently having been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched him fill the page, no concern for whether it \u2018looked right,\u2019 but with abandon to the process \u2013 the colors, the swoosh across the paper,\u201d \u00a0she said. \u201cI pulled a pear from the fruit bowl and dipped a scraggly brush into his paints. I mixed colors, layered, adjusted the lights. I haven\u2019t stopped painting since.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verrier,\u00a0of the Seattle area, was 43 when she received her diagnosis. She was a book editor who enjoyed writing, sewing, knitting and quilting. It wasn\u2019t until Pedro was in first grade that she felt inspired to pick up a paintbrush. She is one of many for whom art has been a healing force in the midst of a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n

Last Thursday, the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago hosted an exhibit of artwork created by Lester Potts Jr., who began painting when he was 73 years old, one year after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Dr. Daniel Potts, Lester\u2019s son, said his father \u201cwas depressed, apathetic, poorly communicative and anxious prior to starting to paint.\u201d The art helped to \u201cgive him confidence in himself, improved his affect and depression, made him more communicative, helped his agitation, and seemed to help stabilize his cognitive condition,” the University of Alabama neurologist\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Potts\u2019 father worked primarily with watercolors and enjoyed painting landscapes, boats, animals and, occasionally, people.<\/p>\n

\"Tree<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Still<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"House<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Fence<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Sea<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Two<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Bird<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Boat<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Watercolor by Lester E. Potts, Jr. at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

After seeing the success of art in improving \u00a0his father\u2019s condition, Dr. Potts founded Cognitive Dynamics, a foundation that offers a variety of art-related educational programs for University of Alabama students, middle school students and professional caregivers in residential facilities.<\/p>\n

Potts organized an exhibit of his father\u2019s work and debuted it in Beverly Hills before presenting it at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago in June. The exhibit returned to the city for one night last week as part of the museum\u2019s Month of MedTech series, which hosts events each Thursday night through the end of January.<\/p>\n

The one-night exhibit also featured a lecture by Elizabeth Barber, a volunteer advocate for the American Academy of Neurology who is developing a company to patent her cancer and Parkinson’s research. She started to research the effects of art and interior design on neurodegenerative patients after her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherapeutic art stimulates the imagination, it makes people more observant, it enhances our problem-solving skills, it encourages out-of-box thinking, it boosts self-esteem, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive abilities and memory, even for people with serious brain conditions,\u201d Barber said.<\/p>\n

She cited studies showing landscapes and horticultural art calms viewers, while familiar images often make viewers feel safe and comforted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt offers hope to these patients who, when you look at them, you would think that they can\u2019t do anything, but when they start to paint, they suddenly come alive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Registered nurse Cathi Thomas, program director at the American Parkinson Disease Association\u2019s Massachusetts Chapter, agreed. She described several art and movement programs hosted by APDA across the country, including her chapter\u2019s \u201cPainting with Parkinson\u2019s\u201d workshop this year. In addition to improving motor skills and reducing the tremors and stiffness often experienced with Parkinson\u2019s, she noted how art can help patients become more social with family, caretakers and other patients.<\/p>\n

Thomas said little scientific research had been done on the topic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are not a lot of studies specific to Parkinson\u2019s, although we do know that there are many studies looking at how art therapy impacts depression and anxiety in the general population,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Despite the lack of concrete research, however, Thomas \u00a0said \u00a0therapeutic art is a growing trend among medical professionals and caregivers alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trend is increasing, which is a really good thing,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s definitely been an increase in people using art and movement initiatives. People are really thinking outside of the box.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2012, Chicago artist Fabiana Glazer saw the need for therapeutic art and founded GoldMind Arts, a program that hosts workshops and classes at nursing homes, schools and both public and private events. She also has partnered with the University of Chicago\u2019s Memory Center, an outpatient care facility serving individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s or other dementia, to offer weekly art workshops.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to increased verbalization and decreased confusion and anxiety, people who come to class once a week are more likely to be active outside of class,\u201d Glazer explained. \u201cAlso, their relationship with their caregiver dramatically improves. They\u2019re having fun together, there is a reversal of roles, and empathy and communication is improved. Patients are overjoyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verrier confirmed that art has transformed her experience with Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving with a degenerative disease, no matter how well we manage its symptoms, a reality lingers that is always within grasp: we will get worse,\u201d she said. \u201cArt, on the other hand, is something we can get better at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week’s exhibit at the National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago. (Talia Beechick\/MEDILL)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Talia Beechick When Renee Le Verrier saw her first-grade son Pedro paint for the first time 10 years ago, \u00a0she decided to give it a try, despite recently having been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease. \u201cI watched him fill the page, no concern for whether it \u2018looked right,\u2019 but with abandon to the process \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":230,"featured_media":24708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,585],"tags":[794,798,793,797,796,128,795,192],"class_list":["post-24707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-science","category-winter-2016","tag-alzheimers","tag-art-doctor","tag-art-therapy","tag-chicago-museum","tag-health-museum","tag-mental-health","tag-parkinsons","tag-promo"],"yoast_head":"\nPainting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Talia Beechick When Renee Le Verrier saw her first-grade son Pedro paint for the first time 10 years ago, \u00a0she decided to give it a try, despite recently having been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease. \u201cI watched him fill the page, no concern for whether it \u2018looked right,\u2019 but with abandon to the process \u2013 […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-01-21T16:43:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-01-21T16:45:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"618\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"taliabeechick\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"taliabeechick\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/\",\"name\":\"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-01-21T16:43:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-01-21T16:45:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2c12f5a8291cfaa8565a98a49046aa\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg\",\"width\":1100,\"height\":618,\"caption\":\"Museumrez\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson’s , Alzheimer’s\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/\",\"name\":\"Medill Reports Chicago\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2c12f5a8291cfaa8565a98a49046aa\",\"name\":\"taliabeechick\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/90f359e6c0c8063e0a494be6f01ae0c85da31b24bda419e359a2640ef0fa282a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/90f359e6c0c8063e0a494be6f01ae0c85da31b24bda419e359a2640ef0fa282a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"taliabeechick\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/author\/taliabeechick\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago","og_description":"By Talia Beechick When Renee Le Verrier saw her first-grade son Pedro paint for the first time 10 years ago, \u00a0she decided to give it a try, despite recently having been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease. \u201cI watched him fill the page, no concern for whether it \u2018looked right,\u2019 but with abandon to the process \u2013 […]","og_url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/","og_site_name":"Medill Reports Chicago","article_published_time":"2016-01-21T16:43:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2016-01-21T16:45:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1100,"height":618,"url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"taliabeechick","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"taliabeechick","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/","url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/","name":"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson's , Alzheimer's - Medill Reports Chicago","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg","datePublished":"2016-01-21T16:43:45+00:00","dateModified":"2016-01-21T16:45:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2c12f5a8291cfaa8565a98a49046aa"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Museumrez.jpg","width":1100,"height":618,"caption":"Museumrez"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/painting-a-picture-art-can-help-people-cope-with-parkinsons-alzheimers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Painting a picture: Art can help people cope with Parkinson’s , Alzheimer’s"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/","name":"Medill Reports Chicago","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2c12f5a8291cfaa8565a98a49046aa","name":"taliabeechick","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/90f359e6c0c8063e0a494be6f01ae0c85da31b24bda419e359a2640ef0fa282a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/90f359e6c0c8063e0a494be6f01ae0c85da31b24bda419e359a2640ef0fa282a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"taliabeechick"},"url":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/author\/taliabeechick\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/230"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}