An Immersive Virtual Reality Platform for Assessing Spatial Navigation Memory in Predementia Screening: Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Gerontology

Background:

• Traditional memory assessments are costly and administratively burdensome.
• Accurate cognitive impairment screening, particularly for dementia in older adults, is crucial.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers engaging, non-stressful cognitive tasks but requires user-centered design for validity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and assess the feasibility of an immersive VR platform for spatial navigation memory evaluation in older adults.
• To compare the VR platform's performance against a standard personal computer (PC) setup.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involved healthy older adults (N=42) using the VR-CogAssess platform with an Oculus Rift headset.
• Participants completed a landmark recall test in both VR and a standard PC (SPC) environment.
• Performance metrics and user experience (engagement, stress, presence) were compared between VR and SPC setups.

Main Results:

• VR users demonstrated significantly higher engagement (P=.003) and landmark recall (P=.004).
• Fewer navigational errors were observed in the VR group (P=.04), with a higher sense of presence (P=.002).
• No significant difference in stress levels was reported between VR and SPC conditions (P=.87).

Conclusions:

• Immersive VR is a feasible and compatible tool for assessing spatial navigation memory in older adults.
• The VR platform shows potential for improved cognitive assessment outcomes compared to traditional PC setups.
• Design guidelines for future VR screening tools for older adults were established.