Neuropsychological insights into creativity in people with Parkinson’s disease

TL;DR

This study explores how Parkinson’s disease affects creativity, finding that dopamine treatments and lifestyle factors can increase creative activity.

Contribution

The study identifies specific neuropsychological and lifestyle factors that predict changes in creativity among people with Parkinson’s disease.

Findings

Dopamine agonists, extraversion, free time, and a creative lifestyle predict increased creativity in Parkinson’s patients.

Disorganized schizotypy is associated with decreased creativity in Parkinson’s disease.

Machine learning explains 23% of the variance in creativity changes among participants.

Abstract

Creativity, the capacity and motivation to produce novel and personally meaningful ideas or behaviors, can be influenced by Parkinson’s disease (PD). Non-motor neuropsychological symptoms, such as apathy and negative schizotypy have been linked to reduced creativity, while dopaminergic treatments are associated with increased creative engagement. Building on epidemiological findings investigating changes in creativity, we examined possible drivers of increased and decreased creative activity. In a cross-sectional study, 360 participants with PD completed a questionnaire assessing self-reported creativity changes and associated factors, including personality (Big-Five, Multidimensional-Schizotypy-Scale), lifestyle (e.g., creative lifestyle, free time), and clinical (HY-scores, MoCA, dopaminergic treatments). Using machine learning (gradient-boosted decision-trees), we explained 23% of variance in creativity changes. Dopamine agonists, extraversion, free time, and a creative lifestyle since symptom onset predicted increased creativity, while disorganized schizotypy predicted decreases. The findings provide new insights for future research on creativity as part of PD’s neuropsychological spectrum and for person-centered treatment.

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