The impact of arts-based interventions on alleviating motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Grounded in the conceptual framework of arts-based rehabilitation, this study systematically evaluated the effectiveness of arts-based interventions (ABIs) in alleviating motor and non-motor symptoms among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through October 2025. Thirty-four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Meta-analysis suggested that ABIs significantly improved motor symptoms, as indicated by reductions in UPDRS III scores (SMD = -0.58, 95% CI [-0.81, -0.35]) and improvements in functional mobility assessed by the TUG test (SMD = -0.22, 95% CI [-0.37, -0.07]). Additional benefits were observed in balance (Mini-BESTest, SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.10, 0.72]), walking endurance (6MWT, SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.11, 0.72]), and gait speed (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI [0.03, 0.65]). Non-motor outcomes also improved, including quality of life (PDQ-39, SMD = -0.29, 95% CI [-0.48, -0.10]) and fall self-efficacy (FES, SMD = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.67, -0.15]). Prediction intervals showed heterogeneous future effect ranges across outcomes. Subgroup analyses indicated that dance-and yoga-based interventions appeared to be associated with relatively consistent effects, whereas no statistically significant changes were observed in depressive symptoms (BDI) or cadence. These findings suggest that ABIs may offer a potentially safe and cost-effective complementary approach for reducing overall symptom burden in PD. Future large-scale, rigorously designed RCTs are warranted to further clarify long-term effects and underlying mechanisms.