Efficacy and Moderators of Virtual Reality for Cognitive Training in People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
Papaioannou, T., Voinescu, A., et al. (2022).
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 88(4), 1341-1370.
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of virtual reality (VR) treatments on cognitive functioning, quality of life, and performance in activities of daily living for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
University of Bath (United Kingdom); Centre for the Analysis of Motion (United Kingdom)
Not specified
Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials
20
Findings demonstrated the following statistically significant improvements following VR treatment for people with MCI :<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">combined cognitive outcomes (g = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.60, 1.51], p < 0.001);</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">general cognition </span><span style="color: #333333;">(g = 0.53, 95% CI = [0.26, 0.80], p < 0.001), memory (g = 1.01, 95% CI = [0.27, 1.75], p = 0.01);</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">attention, processing speed, and working memory (g = 1.42, 95% CI = [0.92, 1.92], p < 0.001); </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">construction and motor performance (g = 1.16, 95% CI = [0.03, 2.29], p = 0.04); and</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">vitality, role-emotional, mental health, and bodily pain measures of quality of life (p<0.05). </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #333333;">There was no significant effect of VR training on executive functioning, verbal function and language, and performance of activities of daily living. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Limitations to this review include the overall paucity of research regarding this topic, small samples sizes within measured domains, and heterogeneity between studies. Further research is warranted.</span>
Findings demonstrated the following statistically significant improvements following VR treatment for people with dementia :
<ul>
<li>combined cognitive functioning outcomes (g = 1.14, 95% CI = [0.41, 1.87], p = 0.002);</li>
<li>memory (g = 2.14, 95% CI = [1.67, 2.61], p < 0.001);</li>
<li>executive functioning (g = 0.51, 95% CI = [0.13, 0.89], p = 0.01);</li>
</ul>
No significant gains were noted in performance on activities of daily living and quality of life. There was a paucity of research to determine the effect of VR training on attention, processing speed, and working memory. Limitations to this review include the overall paucity of research regarding this topic, small samples sizes within measured domains, and heterogeneity between studies. Further research is warranted.
