Arts 4 Dementia new report is set to transform diagnostic practice, establishing a pathway to refer patients at the onset of symptoms to empowering arts to preserve brain health.

A.R.T.S.* for Brain Health: Social prescribing as diagnostic practice for dementia – From Despair to Desire is the product of a A4D’s campaign, with national and regional conferences around NHS England regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

*Activities to Revitalise The Soul.

Leaders in dementia prevention and innovation, creative ageing, social prescribing, culture, health and wellbeing, and GPs and memory services around the UK inform A4D’s national campaign to advance social prescribing as automatic practice at the onset of symptoms of dementia, to preserve brain health – bridging the lonely fear-filled months until diagnosis.

The report, launched on World Alzheimer’s Day, was hailed as a landmark, and its collaborative partnership policy as compelling, by The Rt Hon Lord Howarth, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health & Wellbeing and Chair of the National Centre for Creative Health. Publication of the report coincides with the review of A4D’s recent Arts for Brain Health conference in The Lancet NEUROLOGY this month, written jointly by Professor John Gallacher, Professor of Cognitive Health at The University of Oxford and Director of Dementias Platform Uk and Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health, NHS England and NHS Improvement.

This is a remarkable magnum opus. 
Dr Michael Dixon, OBE, Chair of the College of Medicine & Co-Founder of the National Social Prescribing Network.

We must promote the use of arts as soon as diagnostic tests begin. This will protect against cognitive decline and the strains of dementia and will empower people to preserve cultural interests, and enjoy quality of life in the community for years longer.
Baroness Greengross, OBE, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia.

The shift for us in general practice is not just engaging with those medical activities which are core, but to engage with social activities, and make sure the two are aligned.
Professor Martin Marshall, CBE, Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners.

Social prescription offers a tremendous opportunity to empower people from the onset of symptoms – both the individual and their partner – to override strain and preserve brain health and cultural interests together in the community, for years longer. Veronica Franklin Gould, President, Arts 4 Dementia.