Virtual Reality and Serious Videogame-Based Instruments for Assessing Spatial Navigation in Alzheimer's Disease: A...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Research on virtual reality and serious game-based (VRSG) instruments for assessing spatial navigation and memory in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) populations has increased.
• These instruments are being explored as potential tools for early detection and monitoring of cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the methodological quality and risk of bias in psychometric analyses of VRSG-based instruments for AD populations since 2012.
• To synthesize the current state of the art of VRSG instruments and identify future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review conducted in major databases (July-December 2022, updated November 2023).
• Analysis of instrument development, study design, and measurement properties (e.g., validity, reliability) according to COSMIN guidelines.
• Screening of 1078 unique records, with 37 studies and 30 instruments analyzed.

Main Results:

• Construct and criterion validity were the most frequently reported properties; structural validity and internal consistency were least reported.
• Nineteen studies showed very good construct validity; 11 studies demonstrated very good diagnostic accuracy.
• Most studies had limitations in theoretical framework and research design.

Conclusions:

• VRSG-based instruments are valuable additions to the diagnostic toolkit for AD.
• Further research is essential to establish psychometric performance and clinical utility, especially for preclinical AD screening.
• Future work should focus on instrument development, content validity, and diagnostic accuracy.