Jevtic Sandra, Wittlinger Max, Teimann Sonia, Wiltfang Jens, Scherbaum Norbert, Benninghoff Jens
Center for Geriatric Medicine and Developmental Disorders (ZfAE), kbo-Isar-Amper-Klinikum München Ost, München Ost, Germany.
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Klinikum Essen, Clinic and Institute of the University, Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2025 Jun;132(6):877-885. doi: 10.1007/s00702-025-02917-z. Epub 2025 Apr 9.
Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly recognized as first-line therapies for managing dementia symptoms alongside pharmacologic strategies. Among these, therapy gardens and horticultural interventions have emerged as promising adjunctive approaches. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of a six-month dementia-friendly therapy garden intervention on psychological well-being, specifically depression levels, and to determine whether baseline dementia severity predicts treatment success. The study was conducted in a real-world setting, with a final sample of 28 dementia patients. Unlike previous studies, this intervention incorporated multimodal stimulation, including sensory, motor, and cognitive elements. Results indicated a significant reduction in depression, as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) after six months of intervention (p <.05). However, depression scores assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) showed only a trend toward improvement but did not reach statistical significance. No improvements were observed at the three-month mark, suggesting that sustained engagement is necessary for measurable benefits. Cognitive function, as assessed by dementia severity, did not show significant improvement, and dementia severity at baseline was not a significant predictor of treatment response. These findings underscore the potential of dementia-friendly therapy gardens to provide meaningful psychological benefits by significantly reducing depression over time. Notably, even individuals with more advanced dementia benefited, challenging the prevailing notion that non-pharmacological interventions are primarily effective in early disease stages. These results highlight the need for further research on the long-term effects and mechanisms underlying garden-based interventions in dementia care.
非药物干预越来越被视为与药物治疗策略一起管理痴呆症状的一线疗法。其中，治疗花园和园艺干预已成为有前景的辅助方法。这项试点研究旨在评估为期六个月的适合痴呆症患者的治疗花园干预对心理健康（特别是抑郁水平）的影响，并确定痴呆症基线严重程度是否能预测治疗效果。该研究在实际环境中进行，最终样本为28名痴呆症患者。与以往研究不同的是，此次干预纳入了多模式刺激，包括感官、运动和认知元素。结果显示，干预六个月后，用蒙哥马利-奥斯伯格抑郁评定量表（MADRS）测量的抑郁水平显著降低（p <.05）。然而，用汉密尔顿抑郁评定量表（HAM-D）评估的抑郁评分仅显示出改善趋势，但未达到统计学意义。在三个月时未观察到改善，这表明持续参与对于获得可测量的益处是必要的。通过痴呆严重程度评估的认知功能没有显著改善，基线时的痴呆严重程度也不是治疗反应的显著预测指标。这些发现强调了适合痴呆症患者的治疗花园通过随着时间推移显著降低抑郁来提供有意义的心理益处的潜力。值得注意的是，即使是痴呆程度较严重的个体也从中受益，这挑战了非药物干预主要在疾病早期阶段有效的普遍观念。这些结果凸显了对基于花园的干预措施在痴呆症护理中的长期影响和潜在机制进行进一步研究的必要性。
