Virtual Reality Training Intervention on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life

I-Shou University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; Quality of Life; Virtual Reality

Treatments: Other: Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Intervention (VRCTI)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05329272

IShouU-VR

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a Virtual Reality cognitive training intervention (VRCTI) on cognitive function changes measured with a cognitive test battery and improvement of quality of life in older adults with cognitive impairment in long-term care facilities. Weekly 1-hour sessions were implemented over 8 weeks targeting sustained and selective attention, memory, cognitive functions, and rule deduction. The passive control group received usual care.

Full description

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a Virtual Reality cognitive training intervention (VRCTI) on cognitive function changes measured with a cognitive test battery and improvement of quality of life in older adults with cognitive impairment in long-term care facilities.

Method: Weekly 1-hour sessions were implemented over 8 weeks targeting sustained and selective attention, memory, cognitive functions, and rule deduction. The VRCTI comprised 12 different tasks distributed in 8 sessions with different difficulty levels. The passive control group received usual care. Older adults were randomly assigned to either VR or control groups. An experimental pre-post design was used. Accuracy, error, and repetition rates were measured throughout each session. Intervention effects were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation model.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged ≥ 65 years
• Admitted as residents at the study-site institutions (long-term care facilities)
• Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) ≥ 13
• Able to communicate sufficiently

Exclusion criteria

• Open facial wounds
• Problems with a finger, hand, or wrist and/or major visual or auditory impairment, making it difficult to deliver training scheme
• Major neurological or psychiatric conditions that may affect cognition (e.g., stroke, dizziness, schizophrenia)
• Unstable medical conditions
• Were unable to comply with the intervention

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

The VR group: the Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Intervention (VRCTI)

Experimental group

Description:

The VRCTI was developed to improve cognitive function. The intervention was designed that simulated schema of underwater world fish swimming. Each 1-hour session was typically divided into three parts: easy, medium and difficult, each with 4 different tasks, so there are 12 tasks/session in total. In some tasks, the VRCTI also distinguished between the real lure (e.g. a red triangle fish with a half-moon pattern) as well as unrelated lure items (i.e., blue square fish with polka dot pattern and other irrelevant items). The use of hardware elements for this study included visual (head-mounted display \[HMD\] in delivering the VR intervention), audio, and motor equipment.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Intervention (VRCTI)

The control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group received usual care.