AMIS: the data speaks for itself. Moving together benefits both body and mind

March 2025: four neighborhood community centers across Milan, more than 120 participants aged between 65 and 94. A simple program—two hours a week dedicated to movement, social connection, and small healthy habits. Nine months on, the data tells a story worth sharing.

On March 19, in the Sala Brigida at Palazzo Marino—during Brain Awareness Week—the results of the first phase of the AMIS project (Activities and Movement Together for Health) were presented. The initiative is led by the Wellness Foundation in partnership with the Municipality of Milan, with scientific support from Humanitas University, the University of Milan, ATS Città Metropolitana di Milano, and backing from Technogym.

Inside the data: what we learned

The improvements recorded are not subjective impressions: they are measurable, statistically significant, and point to a real change in participants’ lives.

On the physical level, the tests carried out—from the Handgrip Test to the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand, and the Overhead Test—showed clear gains in lower-limb strength and joint mobility. These results translate into greater independence, more confident movement, and an improved quality of life.

But it is on the psycho-social front that the data may be even more striking. Participants reported an increase in psychological well-being—measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale—and a reduction in perceived loneliness, assessed through the UCLA Loneliness Scale. In a large, often fast-paced city like Milan, this finding carries significant weight.

There is another finding that deserves particular attention: well-being grows with consistency. Those who participated more regularly reported significantly higher levels of well-being. The message is clear: it is not about major efforts, but about consistency.

The meeting at Palazzo Marino brought together experts from Humanitas University, the University of Milan, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, and the Carlo Besta Neurological Institute IRCCS, reinforcing how the link between physical activity and brain health is now a central focus of scientific research—and how initiatives like AMIS represent a concrete, scalable model of active prevention.

The data presented at Palazzo Marino are more than a positive outcome—they provide the scientific foundation for something bigger. AMIS is not stopping; it is scaling up. From May 2026, the project will expand to all nine municipalities of Milan, bringing movement, connection, and well-being even closer to people.

Because when the data shows it works, there is only one right response: scale it up!