1. Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training in the Elderly with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Author
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Maeng, Seri, Hong, Jin Pyo, Kim, Won-Hyoung, Kim, Hyeyoung, Cho, Seo-Eun, Kang, Jae Myeong, Na, Kyoung-Sae, Oh, Seok-Hee, Park, Jung Woon, Bae, Jae Nam, and Cho, Seong-Jin
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Nausea ,business.industry ,Neuropsychology ,Mild cognitive impairment ,Cognition ,Virtual reality ,Cognitive training ,03 medical and health sciences ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,0302 clinical medicine ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,Frontal lobe ,medicine ,Simulator sickness ,Original Article ,Virtual reality-based cognitive therapy ,030212 general & internal medicine ,medicine.symptom ,Cognitive impairment ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Biological Psychiatry - Abstract
Objective This study aimed to introduce a 4-week long fully immersive virtual reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) program that could be applied for both a cognitively normal elderly population and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we attempted to investigate the neuropsychological effects of the VRCT program in each group.Methods A total of 56 participants, 31 in the MCI group and 25 in the cognitively normal elderly group, underwent eight sessions of VRCT for 4 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of the VRCT, the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Packet was administered before and after the program. The program’ s safety was assessed using a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), and availability was assessed using the presence questionnaire.Results After the eighth session of the VRCT program, cognitive improvement was observed in the ability to learn new information, visuospatial constructional ability, and frontal lobe function in both groups. At the baseline evaluation, based on the SSQ, the MCI group complained of disorientation and nausea significantly more than the cognitively normal elderly group did. However, both groups showed a reduction in discomfort as the VRCT program progressed.Conclusion We conclude that our VRCT program helps improve cognition in both the MCI group and cognitively normal elderly group. Therefore, the VRCT is expected to help improve cognitive function in elderly populations with and without MCI.
- Published
- 2021