Virtual Reality As a Memory Aid in Cognitive Impaired Older adults
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Virtual reality is a novel approach that is gaining ground in rehabilitation especially in stroke rehabilitation. Recently a group of scholar had shown that virtual reality serves as a memory aid in improving cognitive status in older adults. This draft will elucidates on scholastic view on using this approach for improving cognitive status among older adults with cognitive impairment.
Overview of Virtual Reality Approach[edit | edit source]
Virtual reality uses computer technology to creates a virtual environment of three dimension worlds which allow the technology user to be immersed and interact with this new world.[1][2] The idea of virtual reality is attributed to Jaron Lanier in the late 1980s who created a computer model that allows user to interact with virtual environment. Virtual reality is now use in various disciplines such as education military technologies, space, medicine and in rehabilitation science.
In the field of rehabilitation, virtual reality allows users to have a complete control of prescribed exercise activities or stimulus. Virtual reality also provides evenness with the exercise activities or stimuli provided. The core of rehabilitation like activities grading, progression from simple to complex, consideration of individual baseline and ability, exercise progression and progress monitoring are all enhanced with virtual reality.[3] Virtual reality also provides safe environment and motivation to its users. In the field of motor rehabilitation virtual reality provides affordable rehabilitation environment without compromising principles of rehabilitation ( motor control and motor learning).[3]
Scholastic Evidence for Virtual Reality as a Memory Aid in improving cognition in Older Adults[edit | edit source]
Garcia-Betances et al[4]. affirmed that virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation systems are capable of achieving the expected training goals for people affected by age-related cognitive impairments. They support procedures for mitigating behavioral and psychological symptoms of patients having MCI and early-stage AD, to best fulfill these patients’ specific rehabilitation needs, as well as their caregivers intervention requirements.[5]
In addition to the overall relevance of the contributions to the current state of the art of CR, a salient feature of implementing VR-based CR training systems is the reliance on intense multidisciplinary collaboration during the innovation and system design phases as well as the high level of involvement on the part of patients, physicians researchers, technical specialists, and caregivers.[4]
Virtual reality in cognitive based rehabilitation may improve/enhance:
- Multi-disciplinary approach to cognitive rehabilitation with users individualism unique needs, and appropriate customized training protocols.
- easy patient interaction with cognitive rehabilitation activities
- Benefiting from true immersive experience to improve cogntive outcome.
- Accessibility to a high level of experimental control, allowing the study of diverse brain-stimulation activities within different areas: memory, attention, language, executive functions, and functional activities of daily living, and so on.
- Researchers’ and specialists’ access to real-time feedback and data collection capacity, to gather performance information during the course of the CR training activities, to be used for analysis of patients’ rehabilitation evolution and procedure effectiveness evaluation and tuning.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Dai R, Laureanti JA, Kopelevich M, Diaconescu PL. Developing a Virtual Reality Approach toward a Better Understanding of Coordination Chemistry and Molecular Orbitals. Journal of Chemical Education. 2020 Aug 3;97(10):3647-51.
- ↑ Bardi J. What is virtual reality?[definition and examples]. Web Article, Publ. Date: March 26, 2019. 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Valentina M, Ana Š, Valentina M, Martina Š, Željka K, Mateja Z. Virtual reality in rehabilitation and therapy. Acta Clinica Croatica. 2013 Dec 1;52(4.):453-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Garcia-Betances, R. I., Jiménez-Mixco, V., Arredondo, M. T., & Cabrera-Umpiérrez, M. F. (2015). Using virtual reality for cognitive training of the elderly. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®, 30(1), 49-54.
- ↑ Garcia-Betances, R. I., Jiménez-Mixco, V., Arredondo, M. T., & Cabrera-Umpiérrez, M. F. (2015). Using virtual reality for cognitive training of the elderly. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®, 30(1), 49-54.
