A community-driven workshop focusing on brain health and dementia prevention brought together residents of all ages to explore the role of creativity, lifestyle, and early intervention in maintaining cognitive wellbeing.
Held as part of Shakti Global’s wellness initiative, the event aimed to highlight practical steps individuals can take to support their brain health long before cognitive decline sets in. At the heart of the session was a simple but powerful idea: prevention doesn’t always require prescription pads—it can begin with a paintbrush.
Dr Subakumar, a respected geriatrician and memory care expert, anchored the session with research-backed insights into age-related cognitive changes. He walked attendees through the early signs of dementia, emphasising how crucial early recognition can be. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, he explained that while ageing is inevitable, decline doesn’t have to be. “Small changes in daily routine—like physical activity, mental stimulation, social connection, and diet—can influence long-term outcomes,” he told the audience.
What stood out, however, wasn’t just the medical knowledge on offer but the creative approaches used to demonstrate it. Participants were invited to immerse themselves in interactive art sessions designed not as therapy, but as active tools for wellbeing.
Leading the first session was Megha Dasog, an artist who works across acrylic, watercolour, and oils. Known for her Warli art and storytelling through canvas, Megha encouraged participants to use painting as a way of expressing memories, thoughts, and emotions. Her approach bridged the gap between personal experience and cultural heritage, inviting individuals to consider how art can carry memory—literally and metaphorically—through shape, colour, and texture.
Joining her was Brisbane-based Suchi Vasuki, a mindfulness teacher and artist who works with women and children to encourage self-expression and healing through art. Her session introduced techniques such as Dot Mandala and textured painting, offering participants a slow, focused practice that some described as ‘almost meditative.’ With over four years of experience, Suchi’s sessions leaned into the therapeutic benefits of rhythm and repetition—approaches that are increasingly being explored in neuroscience research for their impact on mental clarity and emotional regulation.
Together, the two artists demonstrated how creative practice can do more than entertain—it can engage different parts of the brain, promote neuroplasticity, and evoke a sense of calm. These effects, while not cures, are part of a growing movement in dementia care that includes sensory enrichment and purposeful activity as essential elements of support.
The audience response was immediate and sincere. Participants of all ages—from young adults to elders—engaged in the painting exercises, with many commenting on the unexpected emotional release the process brought. Some said the workshop helped them reflect on family members experiencing memory loss, while others simply enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with a creative side that daily life had buried.
Workshops like these also serve a broader function—bridging generational gaps, demystifying health conditions, and making medical advice more approachable. By grounding clinical concepts in creative activities, the organisers fostered a setting where health education felt less like a lecture and more like a shared experience.
The event fits into Shakti Global’s wider commitment to preventative health, especially in communities where early intervention and mental wellness are often overlooked. Speaking after the event, a spokesperson for Shakti Global said, “This isn’t about prescribing solutions. It’s about sparking conversations, equipping people with tools, and creating moments that can shift perspectives.”
There are still gaps in how society talks about dementia. Despite growing awareness, stigma and fear often prevent people from seeking support early. Events like this one are reminders that education doesn’t have to be clinical. It can be warm, collaborative, and even fun.
Shakti Global hopes the workshop inspires more community-led initiatives that combine scientific insight with everyday tools—whether that’s paint, music, or movement—to support long-term wellness. Future events will continue to explore how creativity, mindfulness, and social connection can be used in the service of public health.
If you walked past the event room that afternoon, you might have noticed the laughter, the stillness, the colour on people’s fingers. But beneath the brushstrokes and canvases was a far more urgent message: the sooner we start taking care of our minds, the more of ourselves we get to keep.
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