Salon.com > Stendhal Syndrome http://www.salon.com Sun, 19 May 2013 01:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Why art is good for Alzheimer’s patients http://www.salon.com/2012/09/25/why_art_is_good_for_alzheimers_patients/ http://www.salon.com/2012/09/25/why_art_is_good_for_alzheimers_patients/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:46:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13021995 Hyperallergic Art is a powerful sensory experience — looking at a piece of work and thinking through it sharpens concentration, brings back memories, and stirs emotions, as anyone who has experienced Stendhal Syndrome can attest. The Berman Museum of Art in Collegeville, Pennsylvania is taking advantage of these unique qualities of art to treat Alzheimer’s patients, who find they can focus and remember more while discussing works of art.

Curators from the Berman Museum are bringing selections from their collection to Parkhouse, a nearby nursing facility, to do some testing in preparation for a new exhibition meant for the mentally handicapped called “Access-Ability,” reports WHYY’s Newsworks. Viewing the art (shown in laminated print form, of course) provokes calm discussion and even laughter among the patients, for whom total lucidity is a rarity.

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