Art as Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease

Vision problems are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), often affecting the ability to understand spatial relationships in the environment. This can lead to difficulties judging depth and distance, navigating spaces, and performing tasks like reading or driving. As these challenges worsen, they can also contribute to problems with walking and increased risk of falls. PD affects several parts of the eye and brain involved in vision and cognitive functions, including the retina, eye movements, and areas that process visual information. Current rehabilitation methods for PD usually do not directly address these visuospatial deficits, which may limit how much improvement patients can achieve from therapy. Art therapy, specifically through creating art, is being investigated as a potential way to improve these deficits. Researchers at NYU Langone in New York City are studying how art therapy might help people with PD better manage visuospatial challenges.