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Cited by 80Virtual Reality Applications and ImpactsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchArt Therapy and Mental Health

Immersive Virtual Reality Reminiscence Reduces Anxiety in the Oldest-Old Without Causing Serious Side Effects: A Single-Center, Pilot, and Randomized Crossover Study

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Niki, Kazuyuki, Yahara, Megumi, Inagaki, Michiya, Takahashi, Nana, Watanabe, Akira, Okuda, Takeshi, Ueda, Mikiko, Iwai, Daisuke +2 more·2021·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
DOI 10.3389/fnhum.2020.598161PMC PMC7849024
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Abstract

Background: Dementia is one the major problems of aging societies, and, novel and effective non-drug therapies are required as interventions in the oldest-old to prevent cognitive decline. Objective: This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of reminiscence using immersive virtual reality (iVR reminiscence) focusing on anxiety that often appears with cognitive decline. The secondary objective is to reveal the preference for VR image types for reminiscence: live-action (LA) or computer graphics (CG). Methods: This was a pilot, open-label, and randomized crossover study which was conducted on January 2020 at a single nursing home. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (A or B) in equal numbers, and they alternately viewed two types of VR images (LA and CG) themed on the mid- to late Showa era (A.D. 1955–1980) in Japan. In group A, the CG images were viewed first, and then the LA images were viewed (CG→ LA). In group B, the images were viewed in the opposite order (LA→ CG). Before VR viewing, subjects responded to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Japanese version and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Japanese version. After viewing the first and second VR, subjects responded to STAI and the numerical rating scale (NRS) for satisfaction and side effects (nausea, dizziness, headache, and tiredness). Results: Ten subjects participated in this study. The values of analyses are presented in the mean (SD). The age was 87.1 years (4.2), and the MMSE was 28.5 (1.8). The total STAI score before VR viewing was 36.1 (7.2), but it significantly decreased to 26.8 (4.9) after the first VR viewing (P = 0.0010), and further decreased to 23.4 (2.8) after the second VR viewing (P < 0.001). The NRS score for satisfaction tended to be higher after viewing LA in group A (CG→ LA) (CG vs. LA; 7.0 (2.3) vs. 8.6 (1.5), P = 0.0993), while in group B (LA→ CG), the score after CG was slightly lower than that after LA. There were no serious side effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that iVR reminiscence can reduce anxiety in the oldest-old without causing serious side effects. Furthermore, the impacts might be better with LA images.

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  • The reminiscence program helped reduce anxiety among residents in a Japanese LTC home.

    “The reminiscence program of Niki et al. (2021) helped reduced anxiety among residents in a Japanese LTC home.”

    From Facilitators and Barriers to Using Virtual Reality and its Impact on Social Engagement in Aged Care Settings: A Scoping Review (2023) · cites this paper as Niki et al. (2021)

    The Discussion reports that immersive VR reminiscence could transiently reduce anxiety. However, Materials and Methods > Subjects describes participants as people aged 75 or older using day services at a nursing home, not necessarily residents. The claim's description of them as residents is therefore unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Niki, K., Yahara, M., Inagaki, M., Takahashi, N., Watanabe, A., Okuda, T., Ueda, M., Iwai, D., Sato, K., & Ito, T.
Affiliations
  • Ashiya Municipal Hospital (JP)
  • The University of Osaka (JP)
  • Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (JP)
Corresponding author
Niki, Kazuyuki
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2021-01-18
Volume
14
Pages
598161-598161
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fnhum.2020.598161
PMC
PMC7849024
OpenAlex
W3121976989
Cited by
80
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 4
FWCI
6.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
Keywords
immersive virtual reality, reminiscence, anxiety reduction, oldest old, nursing home residents, dementia, cognitive decline, non-pharmacological treatment, adverse effects, user satisfaction, reminiscence therapy, nursing homes, cognitive decline prevention, anxiety in older adults

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