STUDIES

Virtual Reality for Mild Cognitive Impairment - How Well Do Older Adults Embrace the Technology?

Until now, many people have primarily associated virtual reality (VR) with the world of video games. Yet this technology holds great potential for medicine: with a VR headset, users can immerse themselves in a calm, nature-like environment or specifically train their memory and concentration. This is particularly interesting for people with mild cognitive impairment - that is, early-stage memory loss that goes beyond the normal effects of aging.

One crucial question had long remained unanswered: Are older adults even open to using VR headsets? Or does the unfamiliar technology tend to put them off? This is precisely what a research team from the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim investigated in a study that has been accepted for publication in the journal JMIR Aging. Our application, teora® mind, was used for the study.

Forty-nine older adults with mild cognitive impairment participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either undergo cognitive training with teora® mind using VR headsets or, alternatively, immerse themselves in a relaxing natural landscape within teora® mind. Both groups used Meta Quest 3S VR headsets, which require no complex additional technology. Before and after the experience, researchers recorded how the participants felt about the technology, how they perceived the experience, and whether they felt nauseous or dizzy - a well-known phenomenon in VR known as “cybersickness.”

The results are encouraging. After trying it out, the participants had a significantly more positive attitude toward VR technology than before: their initial skepticism gave way to a more open, friendly attitude. The experience itself was generally perceived as pleasant. And although nausea is a recurring issue when wearing VR headsets, no one except for a single person experienced any significant discomfort.

Another finding is particularly revealing: The research team had suspected that people with more severe memory problems or feelings of depression might have greater difficulty with the new technology. This assumption was not confirmed. Neither weaker cognitive abilities nor a low mood stood in the way of a positive reception of the VR headset. This means: VR is apparently also suitable for people for whom one might initially have expected obstacles.

However, a difference emerged between the two applications: the relaxing natural landscape was slightly better received than the demanding cognitive training with teora® mind. This is hardly surprising - relaxation is easier than exertion - and it also points to where cognitive VR training can be made even more pleasant and inviting.

The study’s conclusion is encouraging: Virtual reality is well-received by older adults with mild cognitive impairment, even when memory or mood is affected. This lays an important foundation for using applications like teora® mind even more extensively in treatment in the future and designing them in a way that people enjoy using them regularly.

Read the entire publication here:

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