How Creativity Supports Brain Health as You Age

Jane Thrall

With Canada’s large aging population, dementia has become one of the country’s most pressing health concerns.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada reports that roughly one in twelve Canadians aged 65 and over are currently living with dementia — by 2030, it’s expected that nearly one million Canadians will be affected.

Researchers have examined a number of plausible contributors to dementia, including medical history, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomics. It seems that every few months another study has published a warning against some variable in our diet or environment that may increase our dementia risk.

Equally thought-provoking are the studies that show how partaking in certain activities, taking a specific supplement, or eating an abundance of a particular food can drastically reduce the risk of dementia.

Scientists have long known the importance of mental stimulation in preventing cognitive decline — it’s been proven that an active mind is less susceptible to neurodegeneration. It’s the slow atrophy of cortical tissue that accounts for the memory loss, disorientation, and changes in behaviour associated with dementia.

Results from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging published in Neurology (2015)* found that people who engaged in artistic activities, both in mid-life and late life, showed a seventy-three per cent lower risk of late-stage dementia compared with those who did not. While neuroplasticity can decline with age, those who participate in creative activities show increased structural and functional connections within areas of the brain associated with mental agility.

Being creative may be one of the best ways to stimulate our brains to form new pathways, make neural connections, and improve processing speed. Creative activities are considered “generative” in that they require conceptualization using abstract thinking, translation into physical form, and refinement with fine motor skills.

Creativity is the bridge that transforms an abstract idea into a physical or aesthetic reality. In its simplest form, to create means to make something where there was once nothing. One person may be creative in the kitchen, while another expresses their ingenuity in the workshop. Some people manifest works of art or fiction, while others may design and implement spaces that feel warm and peaceful.

Creative people are often crafty, hands-on, and unafraid of trial and error. They excel at problem solving, weaving their knowledge and experience with new concepts and ideas. The outcome may be something tangible, like a pair of hand-knit wool socks, or abstract, like a musical composition. A garden full of summer blossoms, a new recipe for fragrant bread, a bar of handmade herbal soap. It is the very nature of humanity to create the things that surround us and give us pleasure.

While the perceived goal may be to manifest a masterpiece, only a small number of us will ever reach the highest level in our chosen field of expression. In other words, don’t expect to create the next Mona Lisa or statue of David. It isn’t about being the best — it’s the process of creating that’s important.

When we take an idea through to its final form, we go through a sequence that requires visualization, conceptual thinking, and problem solving. Whether that means refining a favourite recipe or redesigning a sweater pattern, new neural pathways are needed to rethink old ideas. Those who enjoy creative passions may have protection against the changes associated with cognitive decline, but they also benefit from self-discovery, personal growth, and a connection to community.

*Roberts, J. S., et al. (2015). “Risk and protective factors for cognitive impairment in persons aged 85 years and older.” Neurology, 84(18), 1854–1861.

Jane Thrall expresses her creativity through woodworking and furniture refinishing, writing and photography. She has the attention span of a squirrel and the self-discipline of a golden retriever.