Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Serious Games
Date Submitted: Jul 15, 2021
Date Accepted: Dec 6, 2021
Immersive virtual reality-based cognitive intervention for the improvement of cognitive function, depression and perceived stress in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: a pilot study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The incidence of dementia is increasing annually, resulting in varying degrees of adverse effects for individuals, families, and society. With the continuous development of computer information technology, cognitive interventions are constantly evolving. The use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) as a cognitive intervention for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia (MD) is promising, though few studies have focused on its use.
Objective:
The Chinese virtual supermarket (CVSM) IVR system was developed to provide a comprehensive and individual cognitive intervention program for older patients with MCI and MD. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of this five-week IVR-based cognitive intervention.
Methods:
A pretest-posttest study design was conducted with 31 elderly patients with MCI and MD from August 2020 to January 2021. All participants participated in a five-week immersive virtual cognitive training program using the CVSM system. Feasibility was assessed as the incidence and severity of cybersickness symptoms and participant satisfaction based on questionnaires conducted after the intervention. Clinical effectiveness was evaluated using neuropsychological assessments, including several commonly used measures of cognitive function, psychological wellbeing, and activities of daily living. Measurements were obtained at baseline and after the intervention period.
Results:
A total of 18 patients with MCI (mean age: 82.94 ± 5.44 years; 12 females) and 13 patients with MD (mean age: 85.7 ± 4.67, 10 females) participated in this pilot study. Both groups showed significant improvements in all cognitive function measurements. The MD group had a significantly greater improvement in general cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, F=11.69, P=.002; Mini-Mental State Examination, F=8.97, P=.006) compared to the MCI group. Furthermore, an intervention effect was observed in the improvement of perceived stress (P<.05). Although both groups showed no statistically significant difference in the depression test (P>.05), the Geriatric Depression Scale scores showed an increasing tendency.
Conclusions:
The use of the CVSM system enhances cognitive function in patients with MCI and MD, including general cognitive function, memory, executive function, and attention. IVR technology enriches cognitive intervention approaches and provides acceptable, professional, personalized, and interesting cognitive training for elderly patients with cognitive impairment.
Citation
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