Last month, I volunteered at the ARTZ "Alzheimer's at the Movies" event held at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA. This interactive film program is a one-of-a-kind experience designed  for people with memory loss and their care partners. During the presentation, short film clips from classic films were shown, followed by audience discusssion and reminiscence, guided by moderators. There were (I'm guessing here) about 300 dementia patients plus numerous caregivers. It was a fabulous experience for everyone, and I strongly encourage your checking out the repeat of this event on December 14, plus their other events.

ARTZ is Artists for Alzheimer’s™,  an initiative of the Hearthstone Alzheimer’s Foundation, that draws on the support and collaboration of artists and cultural institutions, as resource, to share, educate and inspire. Their underlying premise is that the emotional engagement available through the arts reach and enliven Alzheimer's patients in ways nothing else can.

I came away affirmed and with more experience in 5 crucial things I already believe about dementia. I want to share them here because we don't see them often enough in print, and because they each can make a real different for those living with dementia and their loved ones. These are:

1. Art Can Improve Dementia Patients' Functioning. It's impossible to describe hundreds of people with Alzheimer's all in the same place avidly watching beloved, old movies and discussing the memories that the movies and questions evoked. Their faces were vivid, their concentration was deep, their excitement was palpable. The group discussions involving the entire audience were lively yet organized and focused. Dr. John Zeisel, President and co-founder of the Hearthstone Alzheimer’s Family Foundation, told me afterwards about the attendees: "After they go back to their facilities, they tell their friends throughout the day, 'Oh, this was wonderful! You have to come next time!'. They not only remember that they were there, when they often don't remember anything they've done in their day, but their general memory function is improved for a period of time following."

2. People with Dementia are not "Hopeless Cases." Every single person in that big theatre, from those who walked in on their own to those whose dementia was so advanced they were wheelchair bound, was amazingly engaged in both the movies and the discussions before and after each clip. They laughed and the funny parts.  They followed the discussion and often engaged in it. I heard no sharing from anyone that was off-track or disoriented.  Everyone was tracking and on-topic.

3. One Memory Leads to Another. Stimulating memories through the movie clips, questions asked after each one related to the movie demonstrated that those present were able to recall and share detailed (and often fascinating!) stories of their past. For example, the famous "chocolate factory episode" from the I Love Lucy show was followed by the question, "What job did you have that you really loved? What job did you really hate?"  One audience member recounted how she stuffed life vests for the navy during World War II, a job she despised. "It lasted two days," she said to the shared laughter of everyone. Getting memories started -- and keeping them going, one after the other -- is a powerful tool.

4. Shared Time Together Can Be Beautiful. This event didn't just impact the dementia patients present -- the caregivers and volunteers also had a blast!  The sharing I did with audience members afterward as I helped them from their seats and to wait to exit (which is slow with many wheelchairs and walkers) was a wonderful opportunity to see how engaged they still were.  We talked about our favorite clips, they remembered things that were said, we laughed again at some of the jokes.  We were all very present in the moment, waiting in line together, passing the time.  It was the icing in the cake for me.

5. There's Much More to Explore -- But Let's Not Wait ARound. The full and highest impact of the arts on people with dementia is as yet unknown.  How to best deliver arts experiences to strengthening functioning? How often? What kinds? Is it effective for all types of dementia? How long do these effects last? How can we prolong the effects? Why does this effect happen? Much to still learn -- but in the meantime, we shouldn't hang back waiting for definitive answers before we expose people with dementia to museums, movies, music, and other arts events -- both as observers and participants.

John Zeisel says, "Alzheimer's doesn't take away memory; your memories are all in there. The part of the brain that's damaged is the part that gives you access to memory. It's as if you put the memories in the glove compartment and you lost the key – and the art unlocked it"  And many believe that for all of us, the arts makes us more fully alive, human and connected.  We are on our feet, applauding ARTZ for the work they're doing.