Mild Cognitive Impairment
Conditions
Keywords
Mild Cognitive Impairment, Immersive Virtual Reality, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Motor-cognitive Training, Geriatric Depression
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality (IVR) application (focused on a daily activity) to train cognitive functions and its impact on depression and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). With a dose of two sessions per week during six weeks, the study showed significant improvements in cognitive functions and reduction in depression, with notable effects in the experimental group. This underscores the potential of IVR as a valuable tool in the management of MCI.
Detailed description
Background: The increase in cases of MCI underlines the urgency of finding effective methods to slow its progression. Given the limited effectiveness of current pharmacological options to prevent or treat the early stages of this deterioration, non-pharmacological alternatives are especially relevant. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality (IVR) application, focused on an activity of daily living (ADL), to train cognitive functions and its impact on depression and the ability to perform ADL in patients with MCI. IVR is presented as an innovative tool with the potential to offer a promising non-pharmacological approach. Methods:The researchers implemented a 40-minute-long intervention, twice a week for six weeks (totaling 12 sessions), using the cupboard task (based on IVR). The study included the participation of individuals with MCI, randomly distributed into control (n=12) and experimental (n=14) groups. The majority in the control group were women (75%), with a mean age of 77.67 years, and in the experimental group, women represented 57.14%, with a mean age of 74.86 years. Cognitive functions, depression, and the ability to perform ADLs were assessed. The scales used were: the Spanish version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-S), the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-S) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. (IADL-S), respectively.
Interventions
DEVICEcognitive training via immersive virtual reality
20 minutes per session, twice a week for six weeks (totaling 12 sessions), using the cupboard task application.
OTHERcognitive training via paper and pencil
20 minutes per session, twice a week for six weeks (totaling 12 sessions), using cards.
OTHERmotor stimulation
motor stimulation for 12 sessions (20 minutes per session)
Sponsors
Universidad de Zaragoza
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 65 or older * Community-dwelling, not in nursing homes * Physically functional * Understanding and voluntary consent * Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) * MoCA score of 19-25
Exclusion criteria
* Clinical dementia diagnosis * MoCA ≤ 18 indicating probable dementia * Neurological disorders including stroke or TBI in the last year * History of mental/psychiatric disorders * Substance abuse * Difficulty using VR headset and controllers * Medical conditions affecting trial participation * Visual/hearing impairments * Communication difficulties
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-S) | 6 weeks | Scores in the MoCA-S scale. Higher scores mean a better outcome. |
| Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-S) | 6 weeks | Scores in the SGDS scale. Higher scores mean a worse outcome. |
| Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL-S) | 6 weeks | Scores in the IADL scale. Higher scores mean a better outcome. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed