A powerful study on aging and the arts

A continuing study on the impact of arts activities on older populations may finally bring two elusive elements together for arts advocates: good news and rigorous methodology. The study, being conducted by Gene Cohen, M.D., has already shown significant health and wellness impacts among arts participants over the control group. Said Cohen at a March 2005 status report:

What is remarkable in this study is that after one year the Intervention group, in contrast to the Control Group, is showing areas of actual stabilization and improvement apart from decline — despite an average age which is greater than life expectancy. These results point to powerful positive intervention effects of these community-based art programs run by professional artists. They point to true health promotion and disease prevention effects. In that they also show stabilization and actual increase in community-based activities in general in the Intervention Group, they reveal a positive impact on maintaining independence and on reducing dependency. This latter point demonstrates that these community-based cultural programs for older adults appear to be reducing risk factors that drive the need for long-term care.

The ”Creativity and Aging Study: The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on Older Adults” emphasizes arts activities run by professionals — professional conductors, artists, craftspeople — and could translate into very large dollars saved in health services if the numbers play out (I know saving money isn’t the larger point, but it’s a powerful argument for public subsidy). Among the findings:

• The Intervention Group reported better health one year after baseline starting point measures, while the Control group reported their health was not as good one-year post baseline.
• Both the Intervention and Control Groups had more doctor visits one year after baseline compared to baseline, but the Control Group increased their doctor visits at a significantly greater rate.
• Both the Intervention and Control Groups had more medication usage one year after baseline compared to baseline, but the Control Group increased their medication usage at a significantly greater rate.
• At the one-year follow-up, participants in the Intervention Group reported less falls than at baseline, while the Control Group reported more falls than at baseline.
• At the one-year follow-up as compared to baseline, participants in the Intervention Group showed greater improvements on each of the depression, loneliness, and morale scales as compared to the Control Group.
• At the one-year follow-up as compared to baseline, participants in the Intervention Group had on the average an increase of two activities per person, while those in the Control Group had on the average a decrease of two activities per person.

We all know that cultural activity can be transformative and personally enriching. This study begins to prove the true power and potential of that belief in improving the quality of life for older populations. Details of the March 2005 progress report are available in PDF format from the National Endowment for the Arts.