Professional Art Therapy and Visuospatial Exploration in Parkinson's Disease: an Experimental Protocol and Preliminary Feasibility Data

Objective: To illustrate an innovative protocol of intensive Professional Art Therapy (PAT) specifically designed for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. To present feasibility data from the first group completing this pilot program. Background: According to previous studies art therapy exerts beneficial effects on mood and other psychological functions in PD. Art creation involves visuospatial perception, multisensory integration, visuomotor coordination, abstraction and creativity. An intensive PAT program exploiting these skills could be used to improve different symptoms of PD, including visuospatial and gait dysfunction. Design/Methods: An initial cross-sectional biomarker study comparing eye-tracking analysis and fMRI connectivity explored differences in visuospatial functions and visual integration between PD-subjects and age-matched controls. A prospective, open-label, 10-weeks PAT program consisting of 20 sessions specifically designed to improve visuospatial skills in PD patients was administered. The impact of PAT was assessed by means of eye-tracking analysis, fMRI, clinical and neuropsychological performances. Eye-movements were recorded by 250 Hz sampling, infrared camera with 0.5° spatial accuracy. MRI utilized structural T1-weighted 3D high-resolution with co-registered diffusion weighted imaging. Correlative analyses between whole brain tractography, connectivity and visuospatial performances were performed. Results: Since May 2017, 8-PD subjects and 5-controls (ages 54–76) were screened. Feasibility data from this first cohort were obtained. Among all PAT sessions (147), only 9 were missed (94% compliance). All subjects completed the study. Two falls were reported and deemed unrelated to the study. All assessments were performed per protocol. No severe adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Visuospatial function in PD has never been explored through a combined approach of eye movement analysis, fMRI, and clinical profiling nor has the impact of PAT on visuospatial function. Acceptability of PAT seems optimal due to ease of recruitment, excellent adherence and no attrition. Current sample size prevents efficacy analysis. The completion of this study is warranted to assess the therapeutic potential of this novel intervention. Study Supported by: Study supported by The Kellar Family Foundation (grant ID# 008181) Disclosure: Dr. Cucca has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mania has nothing to disclose. Dr. Acosta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Berberian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bertish has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hudson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lemen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rizzo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Biagioni has nothing to disclose. Dr. Di Rocco has nothing to disclose.