Alzheimer Café a pilot study in Italy

Both people with dementia and their caregivers show a decrease in quality of life and well-being. The Alzheimer Café (AC) is a psychosocial intervention supporting both people with dementia and their caregivers. This pilot study aims to (1) create a network of Alzheimer’s associations operating in different Italian regions; (2) assess the project’s feasibility; and (3) evaluate the impact of AC participation on (a) the quality of life of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia and (b) the caregivers’ depressive symptoms and burden. We conducted a multicenter pilot study involving a network of Alzheimer’s associations. People with MCI or dementia (referred to as “participants”) and their caregivers participated in weekly AC meetings that included psychosocial, cognitive, physical, and educational activities. We enrolled a total of 168 participants and 161 caregivers through a network of 16 AC across eight Italian regions. We measured the outcomes at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in the participants’ quality of life. Secondary outcomes included changes in caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and psychological stress. We used generalized linear models to analyze the changes in test scores over time. At follow-up, the participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms had significantly improved, and their overall quality of life remained stable. Among the caregivers, distress related to the participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms significantly declined, and burden remained moderate. The AC appears to reduce participants’ neuropsychiatric symptoms and has a beneficial impact on caregivers’ distress, suggesting its potential as a valuable psychosocial support model.