Two-week virtual reality training for dementia: Single case feasibility study

Abstract

Abstract-Persons with dementia (PWD) are known to have difficulty with participation and focus during physical activity. Virtual reality (VR) offers a unique medium for motor learning but has only been used previously for cognitive assessment for PWD. Our study had two objectives: (1) investigate the feasibility and safety of an exercise-based VR training program in PWD, and (2) investigate its effects on balance and mobility. The intervention consisted of daily (5 d/wk, 1 h each) VR training sessions for 2 wk for a single research participant. Clinical balance and mobility measures were assessed 1 wk prior to, during, 1 wk following, and 1 mo after the intervention. Postintervention interviews provided qualitative feedback from the participant and his caregivers. Results indicate that VR training is feasible, safe, and enjoyable for PWD. However, balance and mobility measures were unaffected. VR training is well tolerated in a single research participant with dementia and is an engaging medium for participation in exercise.

Usability and Feasibility of Virtual Reality Cognitive Trainings in Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review

“…Para obtener información significativa sobre la viabilidad de las tareas basadas en realidad virtual propuestas para personas con deterioro cognitivo, en primer lugar, la gran mayoría de los artículos revisados evaluaron el nivel percibido de bienestar después de la exposición virtual (Arlati et al, 2017;Burdea et al, 2015;Flynn et al, 2003;Manera et al, 2016;McEwen et al, 2014;Méndez et al, 2015;Moyle et al, 2017).…”

“…Dos artículos centraron su atención en otros dos tipos de demencia, a saber, la demencia vascular y la demencia frontotemporal (McEwen et al, 2014;Méndez et al, 2015). Teniendo en cuenta que las manifestaciones cognitivas y conductuales de estos dos tipos de demencia son extremadamente diferentes, optamos por incluir también estos dos documentos, ya que explotaron los sistemas inmersivos de realidad virtual.…”

“…Un segundo grupo de trabajos utilizó la realidad virtual para entregar ejercicios motores (Arlati et al, 2017;Chan et al, 2012;McEwen et al, 2014). McEwen y sus colaboradores (McEwen et al, 2014) desarrollaron una intervención basada en realidad virtual que se realizó utilizando el software de ejercicio de rehabilitación interactivo (IREX). Se les pidió a los pacientes que permanecieran frente a una pantalla grande y se les presentó su "imagen" dentro ella utilizando una cámara y tecnología de pantalla verde.…”

Bring the Outside In

“…An increasing body of research explored the use of VR as a tool to enhance, train or assess speci c skills that are degenerated or disrupted due to the diagnosis of dementia, e.g. relearning everyday activities [13], memory training [40], exercise and balance [61], and cognitive assessment [62] . ese studies adopted a taskoriented design approach, in which the PWD would typically need to complete a series of pre-designed tasks in a speci cally designed VE for the purpose of the assessment or training.…”

Recommendations on the Design of Serious Games for People with Dementia

“…Touch control, keyboard and mouse require fine motor skills on a relative small (Tablet) PC screen. Seven studies used gesture control which comprises movements of upper and lower limbs and requires certain motor functions such as balance (postural control, weight shifting, and lateral stepping), eye-hand coordination or reaching beyond one's arm length (19)(20)(21)(33)(34)(35)(36). Movements are monitored on a big (e.g.…”