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Using Virtual Reality to Improve Apathy in Residential Aged Care: Mixed Methods Study.
Dimitrios Saredakis1, Hannah Ad Keage1, Megan Corlis2
1University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|May 30, 2020
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) using head-mounted displays (HMDs) offers a feasible nonpharmacological approach for treating apathy in older adults. This study found that VR reminiscence therapy improved semantic verbal fluency, particularly in those with higher apathy levels.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Apathy is a prevalent symptom in neurological disorders like dementia, negatively impacting quality of life and cognitive function.
- Effective pharmacological treatments for apathy are scarce, making nonpharmacological interventions a preferred first-line approach.
- Virtual reality (VR) with head-mounted displays (HMDs) shows promise for therapeutic applications, though its use in neurological symptom management is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using VR with HMDs for delivering tailored reminiscence therapy to older adults.
- To evaluate participant willingness, response rates, content creation time, and technical challenges associated with VR intervention.
- To explore the immediate effects of VR exposure on apathy and verbal fluency.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods feasibility study involving 17 older adults in residential aged care.
- Apathy was measured using the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES); verbal fluency served as a proxy for cognitive improvement.
- Debriefing interviews and side effect monitoring were conducted to gather participant feedback and assess HMD tolerability.
Main Results:
- The VR reminiscence intervention was highly feasible, with an 85% participation rate and positive participant responses.
- Participants showed immediate improvements in semantic verbal fluency (P=.006) but not phonemic fluency (P=.59).
- A significant positive correlation (r=0.719, P=.003) was found between higher apathy levels and greater cognitive improvements post-VR, indicating personalized benefits.
Conclusions:
- VR with HMDs presents a feasible therapeutic option for addressing apathy symptoms in older adults within aged care settings.
- Close monitoring for potential side effects of HMD use in the elderly population is recommended.
- Future research should involve active control groups to compare VR reminiscence therapy with traditional methods.
