Accepted for/Published in: JMIR XR and Spatial Computing (JMXR)
Date Submitted: Nov 20, 2023
Date Accepted: Jul 18, 2024
The use of immersive virtual reality in nursing homes for people with dementia: A feasibility study to assess cognitive and motor performance and emotional responses.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physical activity interventions for people with dementia (PwD) have shown promising effects on improving cognition and physical function or slowing disease-related decline. Immersive virtual reality (iVR) with head-mounted displays (HMD) enables realistic experiences by blurring the boundaries between VR and the real world. The use of iVR for PwD offers the potential to increase active time and enhance dementia therapy and care in the form of exercise interventions. The feasibility of VR use in PwD, taking into account changes in motor, cognitive, psychological and physiological parameters, has not yet been sufficiently investigated.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using iVR in PwD or mild cognitive impairments in nursing homes, taking into account changes in motor performance, especially balance and mobility, cognitive performance such as global cognition and executive functions, and emotional responses as well as fear of falling, through the use of iVR.
Methods:
The iVR use consisted of 8 minutes with 4 scenes, each showing a park with various minor impressions presented as a 360° video. Socio-demographic data and global cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination) were recorded before iVR use. Before and after iVR use, cognitive (Trail-Making Test A), motor (FICSIT-4, Timed-Up-and-Go) and psychological parameters (Dementia Mood Picture Test, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Short FES-1) were collected. The Emotion Rating Scale and the duration of use were recorded during use and a feedback questionnaire was collected after iVR use in addition to the pre-tests.
Results:
The 33 included PwD (mean age 83.71 ± 5.01 years) showed no statistically significant difference in cognitive and motor performance before and after iVR use. The emotion rating scale showed that 72% felt joy and fun during iVR use, 100% showed no emotions of anxiety, sadness, or anger, and 93% were attentive during iVR use.
Conclusions:
The feasibility of using iVR for PwD can be evaluated positively. There were no changes in motor, cognitive, and emotional parameters that would increase the risk of falls or other emotional reactions during or after iVR use. Further studies are needed to investigate prolonged use in a more stimulating environment and possible physical and cognitive tasks for PwD in nursing homes. Clinical Trial: DRKS00030616
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