Status
In progress
Subject
The research project explores the potential of audiovisual language as a therapeutic tool for reducing anxiety in patients with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Part of the interdisciplinary research between cinema and neuroscience, the project falls within the emerging field of so-called neurocinema, which investigates the effects of audiovisual experiences on the cognitive and emotional functioning of the brain.
The aim is to experimentally evaluate whether watching short film sequences – particularly those characterized by positive content or a happy ending – can contribute to reducing the psychological-behavioral symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including anxiety, agitation and mood alterations.
The study involves people with severe cognitive impairment residing in care facilities in the Republic of San Marino. The effectiveness of the intervention will be measured through an integrated approach that combines:
- qualitative analysis (focus groups with operators, family members and patients),
- behavioral observation,
- objective physiological indicators of stress, such as salivary cortisol and heart rate variability.
The project stands out for its adoption of innovative, non-pharmacological methodologies, responding to the growing need to identify alternative strategies for managing dementia symptoms, often treated with drugs that have significant side effects.
Coordinated by the Department of Human Sciences at the University of the Republic of San Marino, in collaboration with neuroscience and neurology experts, the project aims to generate scientific evidence useful for the development of new therapeutic practices based on the conscious use of audiovisual media in clinical and healthcare settings.