Gambella Elena, Lombardi Lucio, Cicconi Diletta, Raccichini Alessandra, Paciaroni Lucia, Giuli Cinzia, Bonfigli Anna Rita, Fabbietti Paolo, Pelliccioni Giuseppe, Gagliardi Cristina
Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, National Institute of Science and Health for Ageing (IRCCS INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
International Montessori Centre, Perugia, Italy.
Front Public Health. 2025 May 16;13:1561263. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561263. eCollection 2025.
According to literature, an estimated percentage of 10-15% of people diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment each year develop Alzheimer's dementia. Prevention and non-pharmacological treatments play an important role in dealing with this emergency. In this regard, literature has highlighted how exposure to nature, participation in horticultural and cognitive activities, and adopting a Montessori approach are useful to counteract cognitive decline and promote well-being. Therefore, the Silver Agri Age pilot study will test a Montessori-inspired social intervention that will be carried out on farms of the Marche Region (Central Italy) authorized for social agriculture and aimed at an older adult population with mild cognitive impairment in order to improve their well-being and quality of life. This paper describes the pilot study protocol and main outcome.
Four older adult people will be involved for each of the three farms participating in the study, for a total of 12 participants. The inclusion criteria will be age ≥ 55, Mini-Mental State Examination ≥ 24, ability and willingness to sign informed consent. The evaluation will focus on the assessment of the person's emotional well-being, life quality, and cognitive status. To evaluate the feasibility of the pilot project, the quality of participants' engagement in the activities and the satisfaction of the subjects and their caregivers with the project will also be assessed.
During each three-month phase of the project different social farming activities will be proposed. Activities will also include sensory and cognitive stimulation and socialization within the farm. Since according to literature, participation in Montessori-based programs and exposure to nature generate positive effects, the emotional well-being of participants will be assessed as a primary outcome and life quality as a secondary outcome. Additionally, we believe that promoting participation in progressively challenging activities and autonomy may help stabilize cognitive decline. Therefore, cognitive level will also be assessed as a secondary outcome. Ultimately, the pilot study will provide insights into the possibility of integrating a prototype non-pharmacological intervention aimed at improving the well-being and quality of life of people with MCI into the dementia prevention service system.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06754202.
根据文献记载，每年约有10% - 15%被诊断为轻度认知障碍的人会发展为阿尔茨海默病性痴呆。预防和非药物治疗在应对这一情况中起着重要作用。在这方面，文献强调了接触自然、参与园艺和认知活动以及采用蒙台梭利方法有助于对抗认知衰退并促进幸福感。因此，银发农业时代试点研究将测试一项受蒙台梭利启发的社会干预措施，该措施将在意大利中部马尔凯地区经授权用于社会农业的农场开展，目标人群为患有轻度认知障碍的老年人，旨在改善他们的幸福感和生活质量。本文描述了试点研究方案和主要结果。
参与研究的三个农场，每个农场将有四名老年人参与，共计12名参与者。纳入标准为年龄≥55岁、简易精神状态检查表得分≥24分、有能力且愿意签署知情同意书。评估将集中于对参与者情绪幸福感、生活质量和认知状态的评估。为评估试点项目的可行性，还将评估参与者对活动的参与质量以及受试者及其照顾者对该项目的满意度。
在项目的每个为期三个月的阶段，将提出不同的社会农业活动。活动还将包括农场内的感官和认知刺激以及社交活动。由于根据文献，参与基于蒙台梭利的项目和接触自然会产生积极影响，参与者的情绪幸福感将作为主要结果进行评估，生活质量作为次要结果进行评估。此外，我们认为促进参与逐渐具有挑战性的活动和自主性可能有助于稳定认知衰退。因此，认知水平也将作为次要结果进行评估。最终，试点研究将为把旨在改善轻度认知障碍患者幸福感和生活质量的非药物干预原型纳入痴呆症预防服务系统的可能性提供见解。
ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT06754202
