Research Status and Trends in Virtual Reality Technology for the Elderly: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND With the world experiencing significant population growth and aging, the quality of life for the elderly is diminishing, presenting unprecedented challenges globally. Virtual Reality (VR), as a novel interactive medium, demonstrates substantial potential in healthcare and elder care. Research related to VR technology is rapidly expanding and becoming a prominent topic of interest. However, a comprehensive bibliometric overview of VR technology in elder care remains largely unexplored, highlighting the need for systematic analysis of current findings and trends to aid researchers in positioning their work effectively. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the current research landscape, identify hot topics, and uncover emerging trends in the application of virtual reality technology within elder. METHODS We conducted a search of the Web of Science database for relevant articles published from 2010 to August 31, 2024. The data collected included publication volume, authorship, journal impact, country of origin, institutional contributions, key citations, and keywords. We utilized VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica for bibliometric research and visual analysis. RESULTS A total of 1,429 publications were analyzed, revealing a growing trend in the application of VR technology among the elderly. Key research areas identified include rehabilitation, cognitive function, mental health, and social interaction. The United States leads with 317 publications, followed by Italy with 218. Tel Aviv University has the highest publication count among institutions, while Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience has published the most articles (n=39). The most cited reference is ''Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, post-traumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder''. Keyword co-occurrence analysis suggests that "cognitive training," "depression," and "validity" are emerging research hotspots. CONCLUSIONS This study outlines the evolution of VR applications in elder care over the past two decades. Given the context of global aging, VR technology holds significant promise for enhancing elderly rehabilitation. The findings serve as a valuable reference for future research directions in this field, although challenges such as the safety of VR technology remain to be addressed. CLINICALTRIAL