The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is participating in an 18-month scientific study, funded by a $200,000 research prize from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, to investigate whether viewing art can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The study will compare three groups: people with Parkinson’s who experience the Rijksmuseum’s collection via digital tours and low-sensory evenings, those who actively make art, and a control group with no art engagement. The research builds on a pilot study showing that creative arts therapy reduced anxiety, stress, and tremors, and even decreased hospital visits.
This matters because it represents a rigorous, large-scale investigation into the therapeutic potential of visual art for a neurodegenerative condition, moving beyond anecdotal evidence. If successful, the findings could transform how Parkinson’s is managed, offering a non-pharmacological intervention that improves quality of life and reduces healthcare costs. The study also positions museums as active partners in healthcare, potentially opening new avenues for art-based therapies in other brain disorders.