Impact of dementia-landscaped therapy garden on psychological well-being– A pilot study

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.