Virtual Reality-based Mindful Movement Therapy for Seniors

Drexel University12 enrolled

Overview

The current proposal aims to 1) develop a technical platform and implementation plan for the delivery of a virtual reality-based mindful movement therapy (VR-MMT) protocol for older adults; and 2) conduct a clinical trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week, 16-session module VR-MMT intervention for this population. The findings of this study will help us to identify engagement barriers and refine the intervention contents as well as the study protocol necessary for the preparation of grant applications to conduct a controlled clinical trial. This study is innovative and high impact as this is the first study to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a VR-MMT intervention that could potentially ameliorate cognitive and mobility decline and promote psychological wellbeing in older adults by combining a widely accessible technology and creative embodiment-based approach.

Age-related cognitive decline is a significant public health issue. Despite the benefit of regular physical activity in preserving cognitive function and overall health and wellbeing, approximately 30% of older adults are physically inactive due to a lack of motivation and other engagement barriers. Further, social isolation and loneliness are common in older adults which are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. A combination of physical and cognitive training appears to be effective to improve cognitive function in older adults experiencing cognitive deterioration. Growing evidence suggests virtual reality(VR) is a promising tool to improve cognitive functioning in older adults. We have developed a novel virtual reality-based mindful movement therapy (VR-MMT) program for older adults that combines VR games, multisensory and cognitive stimulation, hand-eye and full body coordination, creative processes, expressive movement, mindfulness practice, and social connectedness. The current proposal aims to 1) develop a technical platform and implementation plan for the delivery of a VR-MMT protocol for older adults; and 2) conduct a clinical trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week, 16-session module VR-MMT intervention for this population. The findings of this study will help us to identify engagement barriers and refine the intervention contents as well as the study protocol necessary for the preparation of grant applications to conduct a controlled clinical trial. As this is the first study to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a VR-MMT intervention that could potentially ameliorate cognitive and mobility decline and promote psychological wellbeing in older adults by combining a widely accessible technology and creative embodiment-based approach, it meets the definition of "innovative, high impact" research. Our specific aims include: Aim 1: To develop (a) a technical platform and (b) an implementation plan for the delivery of a VR-MMT intervention for older adults. Technical development and implementation planning will be guided by the expert project team with key input from community stakeholders. Aim 2: To conduct a clinical feasibility trial to examine the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy (primary outcomes: cognitive function, psychological wellbeing, physical activity participation, secondary outcomes: mobility performance, loneliness, self-efficacy) of an 8-week VR-MMT intervention for older adults.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects must be age 65 or older at the time of informed consent. * Able to move and stand without assistance * Subjects must be proficient in spoken and written English for consenting as well as for study participation * Subjects with medical conditions must be stable for these conditions. Stable control on medication is acceptable. * Subject must have normal visual acuity (or corrected to normal) and normal color vision as indicated by self-report. * Subject must have adequate hearing acuity as indicated by self-report. Exclusion Criteria: * Existing diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontal-Temporal Dementia). * Prior diagnosis that might impact cognition and movement abilities including: cardiovascular or respiratory illness or injury, substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, seizure disorder). * Affirmative answer to any Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for 70+ year-old adults (PAR-Q-70+) questionnaire.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Treatment adherence

We will log participants' session attendance to track treatment adherence

Time frame: Throughout the intervention (week 1-week 6)

Treatment acceptability

Treatment Evaluation Inventory Short Form (post-intervention only) is a 9-item measure of the perceived acceptability of behavioral treatments. Items are rated on a 5-point scale with the anchor points 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree). Higher score meaning greater levels of treatment acceptability.

Time frame: Post intervention (Week 6)

Treatment satisfaction

Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (post-intervention only) is a 30-item instrument that examines four dimensions of usability: usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, and satisfaction. Each question is rated on a seven-point scale with the anchor points 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree). There are also two open-ended response questions asking the user to list the most negative aspects and the most positive aspects. All items are summed to give a total score, with higher scores indicating greater usability.

Time frame: Post intervention (Week 6)

Qualitative feedback

A semi-guided individual interview (30 min) will be conducted upon the completion of the intervention to learn about participants' experience of participating in the study, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and suggestions for improvement.

Time frame: Post intervention (within 1-2 weeks after the conclusion of the 6-week intervention)

Safety

We will log adverse event to assess safety of the intervention

Time frame: Throughout the intervention (week 1-week 6)

Secondary Outcomes

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

MoCA assesses different cognitive domains: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.

Time frame: Pre and post intervention (Week 0 and Week 6)

Trail making test

Trail-Making Test is a measure of attention, speed, and mental flexibility. It also tests spatial organization, visual pursuits, recall, and recognition.