Potts presents at the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Paris

Cognitive Dynamics President and Founder Daniel C. Potts, M.D. and Advisory Board member Meril Platzer, M.D. presented a poster at the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Paris, France on July 20, 2011.  James D. Geyer, M.D., also an author of the presentation, was unable to attend.  The presentation, titled “The Art of Alzheimer’s Advocacy”, highlighted the watercolor art of Lester E. Potts, Jr., including works demonstrating abstract expression in late-stage disease, as well as the art of Dr. Platzer’s cousin who also has the diagnosis.  The benefits of art therapy were highlighted, and a case was made for person-centered care incorporating the expressive arts therapies as a means of advocating for Alzheimer’s patients regardless of the severity or stage of their disease.  A call was made for research to elucidate the neuroscience of artistic creativity in Alzheimer’s patients, as well as paradigms to investgate the effects of art therapy and other expressive arts therapies on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.