Research Article: Impact of a virtual reality program on the cognitive and psycho-emotional state of seniors with mild cognitive impairment
Abstract:
Assessment of the efficacy of a virtual reality-based program in improving cognition and affect in patients with mild cognitive impairment during inpatient treatment via randomized controlled trial.
We compared the treatment outcomes between two groups of patients, aged 60 to 89, with mild cognitive impairment and varying comorbid conditions who underwent planned inpatient treatment at the Department of Geriatric Neurology at the Russian Gerontology Clinical Research Center. The experimental group ( n =?31) received standard therapeutic treatment and took part in a virtual reality program for 2?weeks, while the control group ( n =?31) received standard treatment only. All patients were assessed for cognitive function and symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after 2?weeks of treatment.
Both groups exhibited statistically significant improvements in cognitive function, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA), and a reduction in depression symptoms, as indicated by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The main group also showed statistically significant improvement of anxiety and depression subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), p =?0.007. The virtual reality program combined with standard therapy resulted in more pronounced improvement of cognitive function indicators on the MoCA scale than standard therapy alone (2.6?±?2.1 and 1.3?±?1.5 points improvement in group 1 and group 2 respectively), as well as a more significant reduction of depressive symptoms according to the HADS depression subscale (?1.6?±?3.2 and ?0.3?±?1.5 points improvement in group 1 and group 2 respectively), while anxiety subscale of HADS and GDS-15 showed statistically insignificant differences, which requires discussion.
Despite the obvious limitations of the presented study, such as small sample power, lack of blinding and replacement intervention in the control group, results show the promise of further research and application of Virtual reality cognitive training for the stated purposes, demonstrating the probable effectiveness as an additional nonpharmacological treatment for certain cognitive and emotional symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Introduction:
Assessment of the efficacy of a virtual reality-based program in improving cognition and affect in patients with mild cognitive impairment during inpatient treatment via randomized controlled trial.
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