Generation of Novel Ideas: Creativity in Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Healthy Older Adults

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Generation of Novel Ideas: Creativity in Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Healthy Older Adults
Language: English
Authors: Georgia Marsh, Ohnmar Aung, Amelia Ceslis, Robert Adam, Philip Mosley, Jurgen Fripp, Gail A. Robinson
Source: Creativity Research Journal. 2025 37(3):342-357.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Creativity, Alzheimers Disease, Neurological Impairments, Older Adults, Severity (of Disability), Cognitive Ability, Aging (Individuals), Foreign Countries, College Students
Geographic Terms: Australia
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Sentence Completion Test, Remote Associates Test
DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2024.2304498
ISSN: 1040-0419
1532-6934
Abstract: Creativity refers to the ability to produce ideas or actions that are novel and useful, incorporating convergent and divergent thinking. Currently, limited attention has been paid to changes in creativity with disease progression (e.g. mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease). Therefore, this study examined the patterns of creativity between healthy controls (n = 36), adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 23), and adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 21). The study explored whether performance on creativity tasks can predict clinical group and contributing cognitive processes. Various cognitive tests were administered to participants, including measures of creativity. Our findings suggested that creative thought is reduced in individuals with MCI and AD, such that the AD group generated the lowest number of correct responses and made the most errors on all creativity tasks, indicating that creative ability decreases as dementia progresses. Performance on creativity tasks could also predict clinical group (depending on the task, ranging from 49% to 82% of those having MCI), indicating sensitivity to novel idea generation, which has been linked to frontal lobe impairment. Our findings suggested that core cognitive processes underlying creativity, including semantic knowledge and executive functions, are critical for producing new creative thoughts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493563
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:Creativity refers to the ability to produce ideas or actions that are novel and useful, incorporating convergent and divergent thinking. Currently, limited attention has been paid to changes in creativity with disease progression (e.g. mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease). Therefore, this study examined the patterns of creativity between healthy controls (n = 36), adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 23), and adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 21). The study explored whether performance on creativity tasks can predict clinical group and contributing cognitive processes. Various cognitive tests were administered to participants, including measures of creativity. Our findings suggested that creative thought is reduced in individuals with MCI and AD, such that the AD group generated the lowest number of correct responses and made the most errors on all creativity tasks, indicating that creative ability decreases as dementia progresses. Performance on creativity tasks could also predict clinical group (depending on the task, ranging from 49% to 82% of those having MCI), indicating sensitivity to novel idea generation, which has been linked to frontal lobe impairment. Our findings suggested that core cognitive processes underlying creativity, including semantic knowledge and executive functions, are critical for producing new creative thoughts.
ISSN:1040-0419
1532-6934
DOI:10.1080/10400419.2024.2304498