A State-of-the-Art review of visual art interventions for mental health promotion in dementia care

Background: Dementia poses a significant public health challenge. Art-based interventions are increasingly recognised for their mental health benefits; however, visual art remains underexplored, when compared with the performing arts. Aim: To provide a state-of-the-art overview of visual art interventions for mental health promotion among people with dementia and non-formal caregivers, by identifying and assessing intervention characteristics, synthesising mental health outcomes, and outlining future research directions. Methods: This review was conducted between January and March 2023, across Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus, using a PIO strategy. Studies were screened in Covidence, quality-assessed, and synthesised narratively. Results: Of 2,783 records, 16 studies were included. Interventions typically combined art perception and art-making over 6–12 weeks, and were primarily studied using experimental and quantitative designs. Identified mental health outcomes were synthesised at individual, interpersonal, and cultural levels. Originality: This review identifies three areas for advancement: structured design of interventions using the Australian ABC framework, greater transparency in quantitative methodologies, and integrating art museums into dementia care, while addressing accessibility barriers. Conclusion: Visual art interventions hold promising potential for mental health promotion in dementia care. Strengthening research methodologies and fostering collaboration between health and cultural sectors could enhance their impact and accessibility.