Cited by 318Cognitive Functions and MemoryDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchVirtual Reality Applications and Impacts

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Controlling Memory Impairment in Elderly Adults Using Virtual Reality Memory Training: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

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Optale, Gabriele, Urgesi, Cosimo, Busato, Valentina, Marin, Silvia, Piron, Lamberto, Priftis, Konstantinos, Gamberini, Luciano, Capodieci, Salvatore, Bordin, Adalberto·2010·Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair

DOI 10.1177/1545968309353328

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Abstract

Background. Memory decline is a prevalent aspect of aging but may also be the first sign of cognitive pathology. Virtual reality (VR) using immersion and interaction may provide new approaches to the treatment of memory deficits in elderly individuals. Objective. The authors implemented a VR training intervention to try to lessen cognitive decline and improve memory functions. Methods. The authors randomly assigned 36 elderly residents of a rest care facility (median age 80 years) who were impaired on the Verbal Story Recall Test either to the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). The EG underwent 6 months of VR memory training (VRMT) that involved auditory stimulation and VR experiences in path finding. The initial training phase lasted 3 months (3 auditory and 3 VR sessions every 2 weeks), and there was a booster training phase during the following 3 months (1 auditory and 1 VR session per week). The CG underwent equivalent face-to-face training sessions using music therapy. Both groups participated in social and creative and assisted-mobility activities. Neuropsychological and functional evaluations were performed at baseline, after the initial training phase, and after the booster training phase. Results.The EG showed significant improvements in memory tests, especially in long-term recall with an effect size of 0.7 and in several other aspects of cognition. In contrast, the CG showed progressive decline. Conclusions . The authors suggest that VRMT may improve memory function in elderly adults by enhancing focused attention.

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“38,42,43 Regarding those studies who also measured processing speed or simple attention, two studies found that there were no signi ﬁ cant postintervention changes either in the experimental or control conditions, 38,40,41 whereas one study found that the experimental group showed a signi ﬁ cant…”
Influential
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Therapeutic technology
Selzer, M. E., Clarke, S., Cohen, L. G., Kwakkel, G., & Miller, R. H. (2014) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511995590.012 · Cited by 12
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Freitas, L., Val, S. N. D. A., Magalhães, F. E. X., Marinho, V., Ayres, C., Teixeira, S. S., & Bastos, V. H. (2019) · Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology · doi:10.1080/17483107.2019.1688400 · Cited by 12
“Thus, it is possible to create real-time artificial experiments [3,14,15] with the ability to free the user from external distraction [16].”
Background
Music Making and the Aging Brain
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“Future research should explore standardized VR cognitive protocols to enhance replicability across diverse clinical and community settings [32].”
Safety and Ethical Considerations When Designing a Virtual Reality Study with Older Adult Participants
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“Other uses have included memory enhancement training in those with a previous diagnosis of dementia [24].”
MethodResult
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“There is good reason to believe VR applications can help treat pain perception [9], stress [10], quality of sleep [11], and cognitive deterioration [12]—all major risk factors of delirium in the ICU.”
Background
Older Adults’ Concurrent and Retrospective Think-Aloud Verbalizations for Identifying User Experience Problems of VR Games
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“Optale et al. showed that older adults had significant improvement in memory tests after six months of VR memory training (Optale et al., 2010).”
Background
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Pazzi, S., Falleri, V., Puricelli, S., Pardell, D. T., von Barnekow, A., Grau, S., Cavallini, E., Bottiroli, S., Zucchella, C., & Tassorelli, C. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-07141-7_15 · Cited by 11
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Virtual reality-based cognitive stimulation using GRYDSEN software as a means to prevent age-related cognitive-mobility disorders – a pilot observational study
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“Research data show improvements in executive function, attention, visual memory, and long-term memory in people who have undergone VR training (Gamito et al., 2020; Optale et al., 2010).”
Background
Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Rehabilitation: A systematic Review
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“Quality of RCT’s Six studies of the study were RCT’s.22,23,25,26,29,30 The PEDro score for each study is reported in Table 3.”
BackgroundMethod
Cognitive training using immersive Virtual Reality
Intraraprasit, M., Phanpanya, P., & Jinjakam, C. (2017) · Biomedical Engineering International Conference · doi:10.1109/bmeicon.2017.8229126 · Cited by 10
“The purposes of our application are 1) to train visual memory (recognition and recall) and 2) to train visuospatial that related to memory improvement [8].”
Method
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Self-citation
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“In fact, cognitive benefits from other games 89–94 and improved MMSE score post VR-based training 95,96 endorse that VR and mobile-based game-scores can be adopted to directly estimate the real-world relevant cognitive and functional abilities.”
Background
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“Earlier studies, such as Optale et al. (2010), have also shown that VR memory training can help control memory impairment in elderly adults, further supporting the integration of VR in therapeutic settings.”
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Positive Technology
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“Optale et al [32] Ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado Tratamiento n = 31 (21 mujeres) Edad = 80,1 ± 7,9 años Deterioro de la memoria Programa combinado de RV + musicoterapia El grupo de RV + musicoterapia mostró mejoras significativas en las pruebas de memoria, especialmente en el recuerdo a largo plazo, además de…”
BackgroundInfluential
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“For example, studies have utilized VR to assess aspects of executive functioning (e.g., Anguera et al., 2013; Tarnanas et al., 2013) and memory (e.g., Optale et al., 2010; Plancher et al., 2012).”
Background
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“In addition to cognitive assessment, VR games are used for rehabilitation of executive functioning [27,28], memory impairment control [29-31], language improvement [32,33], and motor rehabilitation [34].”
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“Altogether, cognitive intervention (rehabilitation, training or stimulation) with VR tasks seems to show consistent improvements in general cognition, with an emphasis on memory, attention and frontal lobe functions [15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24].”
Background
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“13 ± 4.38 Yes Multi-domain CT 1:1 instruction 20 sessions (45min, twice per week, 10 weeks) Active (CS communication exercises) Optale et al. (2010) Italy Verbal Memory impairment 18 78.50 ± 10.90 18 81.60 ± 5.00 Yes CT (Virtual Reality Memory Training) 1:1 laboratory administration 36 sessions…”
BackgroundResultInfluential
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Dores, A. R., Miranda, M. J., Carvalho, I. P., Mendes, L., Barbosa, F., Coelho, A. F., de Sousa, L., & Castro‐Caldas, A. (2012) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · Cited by 8
Designing Virtual Reality (VR) experience for older adults and determine its impact on their overall well-being
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Progress of research and application of non-pharmacologic intervention in Alzheimer's disease
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The Potential of Virtual Reality-Based Multisensory Interventions in Enhancing Cognitive Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review
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“Notably, one study observed that the VR program not only enhanced cognition but also led to a reduction in discomfort across all SSQ items, suggesting that well-designed VR experiences can be both effective and comfortable for individuals with MCI [45,46].”
The Future of Cognitive Training
Colzato, L. S., & Hommel, B. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-42662-4_19 · Cited by 9
Virtual Reality Orientation Game for Alzheimer’s Disease Using Real-Time Help System
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Application of virtual reality for dementia management
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“Positive attitude towards using VR were frequently reported among patients and their caregivers, including experiencing more pleasure, more alert to the training, and less apathy in patients [41, 42].”
Background
Brain Plasticity in Older Adults: Could It Be Better Enhanced by Cognitive Training via an Adaptation of the Virtual Reality Platform FitForAll or via a Commercial Video Game?
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Virtual Reality as a Friend of the Elderly: A Mini-Review
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“16518 [14,15], recognizing faces [16], cognitive functioning [15-17], and also other daily activities [18,19] and the results suggest that it is useful for them.”
Background
Planar Abstraction and Inverse Rendering of 3D Indoor Environments
Kim, Y. M., Ryu, S., & Kim, I.-J. (2019) · IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics · doi:10.1109/tvcg.2019.2960776 · Cited by 7
“Realistic VR contents could even be a solution for treating mental issues including Alzheimer diseases [1], [2], [3], or for producing training data for machine-learning tasks with physically based rendering [4] and a simulator [5].”
Background
Alterations of Audiovisual Integration in Alzheimer’s Disease
Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Wei, T., Zhou, S., Yin, Y., Mi, Y., Liu, X., & Tang, Y. (2023) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-023-01125-7 · Cited by 6
“Soothing and calming music assists patients in receiving more attention and better immersing themselves in a virtual environment [145].”
Background

Authors: Optale, G., Urgesi, C., Busato, V., Marin, S., Piron, L., Priftis, K., Gamberini, L., Capodieci, S., & Bordin, A.
Affiliations: Association of Medical Psychotherapists, Venice, Italy, , Psychosexology, ASL12, Mestre, Venice, Italy
University of Udine (IT)
Consorzio Sociale CPS gestore centro servizi “Anni Sereni” Rest-Home, Scorzè, Venice, Italy
Association of Medical Psychotherapists, Venice, Italy, Psychosexology, ASL12, Mestre, Venice, Italy
University of Padua (IT)
Association of Medical Psychotherapists, Venice, Italy
Corresponding author: Optale, Gabriele
ORCID: Urgesi, Cosimo
Priftis, Konstantinos
Gamberini, Luciano
Venue: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2009-11-24
Volume: 24
Issue: 4
Pages: 348-357
ISSN: 0888-4390 (ISSN-L)
1545-9683
1552-6844
DOI: 10.1177/1545968309353328
OpenAlex: W2131366419
Cited by: 318
References: 48
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 5.07
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
hdl.handle.net
Licence: other-oa
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Neurorehabilitation and neural repair (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Institutional Research Information System (University of Udine) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Ministero della Salute
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
Keywords: memory impairment, older adults, cognitive decline, music therapy, auditory stimulation, path finding, focused attention, nursing home residents, cognitive rehabilitation
MeSH terms: Acoustic Stimulation, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Attention, Female, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Music Therapy, Neuropsychological Tests, Pilot Projects, Mental Recall, Time Factors, User-Computer Interface, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome

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Controlling Memory Impairment in Elderly Adults Using Virtual Reality Memory Training: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

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