Using Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Therapy in Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT06838494

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University66 enrolled

Overview

The proposed study aims to investigate the potential of IVR-CST in improving cognition of people with MCI, and as well the association of eye movement during therapy and treatment outcomes of IVR-CST. Four research questions have been proposed and listed as follows: 1. Is IVR-CST a feasible treatment for elderly with MCI? 2. Is IVR-CST an efficacious treatment for improving cognition of elderly with MCI? 3. Is IVR-CST more efficacious than conventional CST (i.e., without IVR) in improving the cognition of elderly with MCI? 4. Is eye-tracking data collected during therapy associated with treatment outcomes of IVR CST?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Interventions

IVR-CST involves 14 sessions of cognitive stimulation therapy conducted twice a week in a virtual reality environment. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and utilizes head-mounted displays (HMDs) to immerse participants in engaging, themed activities. The therapy aims to enhance cognitive function and social interaction through interactive and stimulating virtual experiences tailored for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Intervention Name: Conventional CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy)BEHAVIORAL

Conventional CST consists of 14 sessions of cognitive stimulation therapy conducted twice a week, each lasting about 45 minutes. In this arm, participants engage in group activities using physical materials, such as photos, pictures, and real objects, rather than virtual reality. The therapy focuses on providing cognitive stimulation through discussions and activities designed to improve cognitive function and social engagement among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. elderly aged 60 years or above, 2. a diagnosis of MCI made by a psychiatrist, or a score of 16-21 out of 30 in the Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC, 31), with upper and lower cutoff scores for MCI as suggested by the test. HKBC has been validated in Hong Kong with satisfactory sensitivity (0.88) and specificity ((0.81) in differentiating subjects with MCI and healthy individuals, 3. ability to speak and comprehend Cantonese, 4. normal or corrected-to-normal binocular vision and hearing, 5. absence of physical illness/disability to prevent them from IVR-CST participation, 6, compatible with IVR exposure in the 10-minute IVR trial without major signs of cybersickness, based on the symptoms given in the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: 1. concurrent participation in other clinical therapy trials, 2. incompatibility with IVR exposure such as complaints of nausea, headache, or other severe discomforts during trial use, 3. a diagnosis of dementia or other psychiatric/neurological diseases such as depression, stroke, brain trauma, Parkinson's disease 4. hearing/visual/upper limb impairments that hinder CST/IVR-CST participation, 5. prior CST treatment, 6. Use of medication for MCI/dementia, e.g., aducanumab

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA)

Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) Measurement of global cognition in participants, covering various cognitive domains such as visuo-spatial skills, executive functions, attention, memory, language, and orientation. The total score ranges from 1-30, with higher score indicating better performance.