Dementia and painting in patients from different cultural backgrounds

Abstract

Background/Aim: Some patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) have been shown to develop painting abilities after the onset of the disease; however, the reported cases have all been in western countries. The purpose of this report was to investigate whether this phenomenon was unique to western countries. Methods: 2 patients participated in this study. They were nonwestern uneducated patients with FTLD, semantic dementia subtype, who developed drawing skills after the onset of the disease. We compared their drawings with drawings in previous reports. Results: The characteristics of their paintings matched those of paintings from previously reported cases despite the cultural differences. Conclusion: These results support the assumption that the appearance of painting skills during this illness is not a reflection of learning, but instead is an expression of innate functions of the brain. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG.