Virtual Reality As a Memory Aid in Cognitive Impaired Older adults

Original Editor - Tolulope Adeniji Top Contributors - Tolulope Adeniji

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]

The Illusions in Virtual Reality[edit | edit source]

Illusions are those objects that can be wrongly perceived by senses. In virtual reality, there are three illusions: place, plausibility and embodiment illusions that makes virtual reality unique to usage in many field of human endeavors. Virtual reality takes us to new environment on the concept of place illusion and plausibility illusion is how real or close to reality this our new environment appeals to us.

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 important in achieving rehabilitation goals for older adults with cognitive impairment. The authors also highlights that Virtual reality may alleviated behavioral and cognitive symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment. Virtual reality also encourages multidisciplinary collaboration in delivery effective cognitive based rehabilitation for older adults.[4]

Below are possible additional benefits of virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation to older adults with cognitive impairment:[4]

  • It encourages multi-disciplinary approach to cognitive rehabilitation by allowing integration of users individualism unique needs, and appropriate customized training protocols.
  • virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation make it easy for patient to interact with cognitive rehabilitation activities.
  • Benefiting from true immersive experience to improve cogntive outcome.
  • In research virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation gives high level of experimental control. for example in brain stimulation activities it allow studying of different cogntive domains, functional activities and other variable of interest\
  • Importance of virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation to researchers includes allowing of quality feedback, data gathering, perfomance evaluatin, it could help in analysis of patients’ rehabilitation evolution and procedure effectiveness evaluation and tuning.

Physiotherapy Practice in Virtual Reality as a Memory Aid for older adults[edit | edit source]

In physiotherapy practice, some scholars are of opinion that Virtual reality and Exergames with focus to cognitive exercises may improve memory among older adults. Adcock M. et al.[5] had shown that Exergame exercises with focus on cognitive rehabilitation may improve executive function in older adults.


References[edit | edit source]

  1. 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.
  2. Bardi J. What is virtual reality?[definition and examples]. Web Article, Publ. Date: March 26, 2019. 2019.
  3. 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. 4.0 4.1 4.2 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.
  5. Adcock M, Fankhauser M, Post J, Lutz K, Zizlsperger L, Luft AR, Guimarães V, Schättin A, de Bruin ED. Effects of an in-home multicomponent exergame training on physical functions, cognition, and brain volume of older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in medicine. 2020 Jan 28;6:321.