PRESS RELEASE 6 February 2026

ACE ALZHEIMER CENTER BARCELONA PROMOTES ART VISITS TO STIMULATE MEMORY IN PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

– Art and dialogue are therapeutic tools for stimulating autobiographical memories and improving emotional well-being
– “Parlem d’Art” offers a journey through the various stages of life by observing works of art that evoke memories and experiences in visitors
– Through reminiscence, a non-pharmacological therapy, cognitive and social benefits are generated that help reduce anxiety and depression in people with Alzheimer’s

Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, in collaboration with the Amics del MNAC Foundation, has launched an innovative programme of cultural visits aimed at people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, with the aim of stimulating their autobiographical memory and improving their emotional and social wellbeing.

The visits are based on reminiscence, a non-pharmacological therapy which, through the evocation of autobiographical memories, transforms the museum into a therapeutic space for dialogue and emotional connection.

The initiative takes place at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), through visits specially designed to stimulate autobiographical memory, encourage emotional expression and reinforce personal identity through observation and dialogue around works of art. The sessions, with small groups of up to 20 people comprising Ace users and their relatives, will take place on 29 January, 5 February and 12 February.

Art as a tool for evoking memories

Under the title Parlem d’art , Càpsules de Diàleg al voltant de l’art, the programme offers dynamic sessions led by specialist educators who encourage participants to observe, interpret and share personal memories and experiences through a selection of artworks. The visits follow the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) methodology, developed at MoMA and Harvard University, which encourages critical thinking, communication and active listening through open-ended questions.

This approach connects directly with reminiscence, one of the most widely used non-pharmacological psychosocial interventions in the management of dementia. It involves evoking significant memories from one’s own life story, associated with emotionally charged experiences, which remain accessible even when other cognitive abilities are affected.

“Reminiscence allows us to connect with memories that remain very present on an emotional level, even when other cognitive abilities are affected. Art, and especially dialogue around images laden with meaning, acts as a powerful trigger for memories, emotions and personal experiences that reinforce identity and generate well-being,” says Dr Mercè Boada, founder of Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona.

Celebrating life through art

The central theme of the tours is celebration as a universal expression of life. Through three works from very different periods, the tour offers a symbolic journey through the stages of life, childhood, youth and adulthood, encouraging visitors to recall personal memories linked to shared experiences such as births, parties, music, dancing or weddings:

Frontal de Avià (c. 1200): birth, light and the celebration of the beginning of life.
The Minuet, by Giandomenico Tiepolo (1756): youth, music and the joy of movement.
A Wedding, by Olga Sacharoff (1921): commitment, maturity and shared life.

Through observing the works, participants share their own memories, emotions and experiences, generating a dialogue that connects individual memory with collective memory and contributes to the construction of new meanings.

Cognitive, emotional and social benefits

From a neuropsychological perspective, reminiscence therapy helps to stimulate not only memory, but also other cognitive functions such as language, attention, orientation and motor skills. On an emotional and social level, these sessions help to reduce anxiety and depression, boost self-esteem, encourage social interaction and improve emotional wellbeing, with a direct impact on the quality of life of people with dementia and their families. The activity takes place in an accessible and safe cultural setting, transforming the museum into a space for meeting, participation and care.

“Activities such as these not only stimulate memory and language, but also foster social interaction, self-esteem and connections with others. Transforming a cultural space such as the MNAC into a therapeutic environment has a very positive impact on the quality of life of people with dementia and their families,” adds Miren Jone Gurrutxaga, Director General of Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona.

Through this collaboration, Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona and the Amics del MNAC Foundation are reinforcing their commitment to an inclusive culture and to the use of art as a therapeutic, social and emotional tool, in line with the most established practices in the non-pharmacological approach to dementia.

About Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, a pioneering model in the field of Alzheimer’s:

Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, an innovative organisation and a leading institution in Spain, was founded in 1995 with the aim of meeting the growing demand for the diagnosis and treatment of people with cognitive impairment and dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s. It offers personalised care and comprehensive support to patients and their families through a care model based on telemedicine, which ensures that care and support are available to all people with Alzheimer’s and their families from anywhere in the country.

Each year, its Diagnostic Unit sees around 8,000 people, of whom more than 4,000 have dementia (3,000 of whom have Alzheimer’s). Early-stage diagnosis of dementia is a priority for Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, which is why it promotes free memory assessments, including online via FACEmemory®. Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona is regarded as a leading international centre for research, particularly in the clinical, neuropsychological, social and basic fields. Among other research activities, Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona participates in numerous global clinical trials covering all stages of the disease. As such, it leads two research projects funded by the European Union on the genetics of Alzheimer’s (ADAPTED) and on models of active patient involvement (MOPEAD).

For more information

Diana Fernández: diana.fernandez@newlink-group.com 615 85 92 57

Isabel Rodríguez: irodriguez@fundacioace.org  93 444 73 18