Date of Award

Spring 5-17-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Karen Estrella

Second Advisor

Mitchell Kosak

Third Advisor

Basel Zayed

Abstract

Neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and other dementias, are progressive disorders that lead to white matter damage in the brain, resulting in structural and functional consequences that disrupt neuronal pathways and contribute to significant cognitive and behavioral impairments. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form and a leading cause of death among older adults. Nearly 97% of patients experience neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are incredibly challenging to treat effectively as the disease progresses and, in some cases, may be untreatable with pharmaceuticals. This situation significantly increases caregiver burden and healthcare costs. Traditional pharmacological treatments for these conditions have limited efficacy and considerable side effects, prompting interest in novel therapies. Expressive arts therapy, which integrates various modalities such as music, art, dance, and drama, has shown evidence of enhancing cognition, emotional regulation, and quality of life for individuals with neurocognitive disorders. In parallel, psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT)—particularly with psilocybin—has garnered attention for its potential to improve mood and cognition in patients with dementia, offering a compelling alternative to conventional treatments. This review explores the combined therapeutic potential of expressive arts therapies and psilocybin-assisted therapy in managing neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Emerging research suggests that both interventions support brain plasticity, emotional regulation, and overall well-being, offering effective treatment options where traditional pharmacological approaches often fall short. Although studies on integrating these therapies are still limited, early findings highlight their neuroscientific benefits and suggest significant potential for synergistic effects. This review encourages further exploration of an integrative treatment model. This low-cost, low-side-effect, and holistic solution integrates multiple therapeutic approaches that show potential to improve treatment outcomes, slow disease progression, and enhance the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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