Evaluation of a virtual reality-based memory training programme for Hong Kong Chinese older adults with questionable dementia: a pilot study

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 513 - 520
• Main Authors: Man, David W. K., Chung, Jenny C. C., Lee, Grace Y. Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.05.2012; Psychology Press; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - therapy; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia; Dementia - complications; Dementia - therapy; Effectiveness studies; Female; General aspects; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatric psychology; Geriatrics; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Memory; memory training; Neurology; older adults; Older people; Pilot Projects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; questionable dementia; Surveys and Questionnaires; User-Computer Interface; virtual reality; Hong Kong; Asia; China; Hong Kong China; Human; Evaluation; Nervous system diseases; Asiatic; Memory; Psychology; questionable dementia; Augmented reality; Cerebral disorder; Senile dementia; memory training; Gerontology; Central nervous system disease; Virtual reality; older adults; Chinese; Training program; Degenerative disease; Elderly; Psychiatry; Geriatrics
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.2746

Background Older adults with questionable dementia are at risk of progressing to dementia, and early intervention is considered important. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)‐based memory training for older adults with questionable dementia. Methods A pre‐test and post‐test design was adopted. Twenty and 24 older adults with questionable dementia were randomly assigned to a VR‐based and a therapist‐led memory training group, respectively. Primary outcome measures included the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire and Fuld Object Memory Evaluation. Results Both groups demonstrated positive training effects, with the VR group showing greater improvement in objective memory performance and the non‐VR group showing better subjective memory subtest results in the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire. Conclusion The use of VR seems to be acceptable for older adults with questionable dementia. Further study on the effect of educational background and memory training modality (visual, auditory) is warranted. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.