Museum-based creative arts interventions for people living with dementia: A scoping review

While global ageing has heightened dementia prevalence, current treatments remain limited in efficacy and are burdened by side effects. Against this background, art therapy has gained attention as an innovative alternative intervention for dementia. For non-pharmacological dementia care, museums are inclusive cultural spaces offering safe and supportive environments. This review examines how Museum-Based Creative Arts Interventions (MCAIs) can alleviate dementia symptoms and evaluates their benefits. We searched six databases for studies meeting three criteria, that is, museum/gallery-based interventions, dementia-diagnosed participants, and creative arts interventions as the primary treatment. Among 1080 screened articles, 31 qualified studies were selected for inclusion. Overall, MCAIs help alleviate cognitive and emotional symptoms while enhancing the quality of life for people living with dementia by strengthening social connections, self-esteem, communication, and shared meaning. This review highlights the beneficial role of museums with art interventions in health. Findings can inform museum-health collaborations and cultural institutions' public wellness strategies.