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Emotion Spectrum Analysis Method (ESAM) for Monitoring the Effects of Art Therapy Applied on Demented Patients

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD) is a major healthcare problem in all countries with a significant proportion of elderly individuals. Contrary to previous thinking, recent work has shown that AD is a significant cause of dementia in Japan and is currently under-diagnosed in favor of Vascular Dementia (VD).1,2 Generally speaking, dementia has been treated as an incurable disease. But recently, the idea that dementia being incurable has been erased. The American Psycho-Medical Association has introduced the concept of curative dementia. Matsushita3 indicated that cerebral problems could not be the sole reason for the onset of dementia because there are psychological factors such as psychological stress, social-environmental factors such as loneliness and isolation, mental factors, and physical factors. Kondou4 reported on risk factors of the cause of dementia. This shows that there is a possibility for cure and prevention. Kaneko5 also reported on critical factors for the cause of dementia and indicated the possibility of recovery by cerebral activation in the early stage. Kaneko stressed the importance of early diagnosis and early treatment. Currently, we don’t have a standard method for early diagnosis. The Hamamatsu method of early diagnosis (among many others) was the one of the easiest methods with which to screen the patients. This method was tested through statistical verification. However, the Hamamatsu method includes an active functional questionnaire and task requirements for subjects; it is not suitable for mass screening. It is known that progress of AD is blocked by cognitive rehabilitation and medication provided it is found in its early stages. Some of the present authors (SK, KK, KN, KS) have been applying active art therapy on demented patients in various levels for the past 3 years, and have observed remarkable improvement of the patients. Active art therapy is aimed at giving the patients an enjoyable time by providing strong interactions between patients and artists. Family members are also invited to join art workshops with the patients so that they can enjoy oneness with the patients. The age of the patients ranges from 50 to 80 years, and the average is 73.2 years. They are classified as mild (20 patients), severe (20 patients), and predementia (1 patient). There are 23 patients diagnosed with senile dementia of Alzheimer’s type, 15 patients diagnosed with cerebro-vascular type dementia, and 3 patients diagnosed with pre-senile dementia of Alzheimer’s type.