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Siette J, Adam PJ, Harris CB. Acceptability of virtual reality to screen for dementia in older adults. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:493. [PMID: 38840041 PMCID: PMC11151481 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05115-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early detection of dementia and cognitive decline is crucial for effective interventions and overall wellbeing. Although virtual reality (VR) tools offer potential advantages to traditional dementia screening tools, there is a lack of knowledge regarding older adults' acceptance of VR tools, as well as the predictors and features influencing their adoption. This study aims to (i) explore older adults' perceptions of the acceptability and usefulness of VR diagnostic tools for dementia, and (ii) identify demographic predictors of adoption and features of VR applications that contribute to future adoption among older adults. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted involving community-dwelling older adults who completed online questionnaires covering demographics, medical history, technology acceptance, previous usage, and perceived usefulness and barriers to VR adoption. Multiple linear regression was employed to assess relationships between sociodemographic factors, prior technology use, perceived ease, usefulness, and intention to adopt VR-based diagnostic tools. RESULTS Older adults (N = 77, Mage = 73.74, SD = 6.4) were predominantly female and born in English-speaking countries. Perceived usefulness of VR applications and educational attainment emerged as significant predictors of the likelihood to use VR applications for dementia screening. Generally, older adults showed acceptance of VR applications for healthcare and dementia screening. Fully immersive applications were preferred, and older adults were mostly willing to share electronic information from screening with their healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS The field of research on VR applications in healthcare is expanding. Understanding the demographic characteristics of populations that stand to benefit from healthcare innovations is critical for promoting adoption of digital health technologies and mitigating its barriers to access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Siette
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Patrick J Adam
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Celia B Harris
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
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Faria AL, Almeida Y, Branco D, Câmara J, Cameirão M, Ferreira L, Moreira A, Paulino T, Rodrigues P, Spinola M, Vilar M, Bermúdez i Badia S, Simões M, Fermé E. NeuroAIreh@b: an artificial intelligence-based methodology for personalized and adaptive neurorehabilitation. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1258323. [PMID: 38322797 PMCID: PMC10846403 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1258323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairments are a prevalent consequence of acquired brain injury, dementia, and age-related cognitive decline, hampering individuals' daily functioning and independence, with significant societal and economic implications. While neurorehabilitation represents a promising avenue for addressing these deficits, traditional rehabilitation approaches face notable limitations. First, they lack adaptability, offering one-size-fits-all solutions that may not effectively meet each patient's unique needs. Furthermore, the resource-intensive nature of these interventions, often confined to clinical settings, poses barriers to widespread, cost-effective, and sustained implementation, resulting in suboptimal outcomes in terms of intervention adaptability, intensity, and duration. In response to these challenges, this paper introduces NeuroAIreh@b, an innovative cognitive profiling and training methodology that uses an AI-driven framework to optimize neurorehabilitation prescription. NeuroAIreh@b effectively bridges the gap between neuropsychological assessment and computational modeling, thereby affording highly personalized and adaptive neurorehabilitation sessions. This approach also leverages virtual reality-based simulations of daily living activities to enhance ecological validity and efficacy. The feasibility of NeuroAIreh@b has already been demonstrated through a clinical study with stroke patients employing a tablet-based intervention. The NeuroAIreh@b methodology holds the potential for efficacy studies in large randomized controlled trials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lúcia Faria
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Yuri Almeida
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Diogo Branco
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Joana Câmara
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mónica Cameirão
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Luis Ferreira
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Paulino
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Pedro Rodrigues
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Mónica Spinola
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Manuela Vilar
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sergi Bermúdez i Badia
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Mario Simões
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Fermé
- NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics, Caparica, Portugal
- Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
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Buele J, Varela-Aldás JL, Palacios-Navarro G. Virtual reality applications based on instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) for cognitive intervention in older adults: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2023; 20:168. [PMID: 38110970 PMCID: PMC10729470 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01292-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the use of virtual reality (VR) as a complementary intervention in treating cognitive impairment has significantly increased. VR applications based on instrumental activities of daily living (iADL-VR) could offer a promising approach with greater ecological validity for intervention in groups with cognitive impairments. However, the effectiveness of this approach is still debated. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to synthesize the effects of iADL-VR interventions to rehabilitate, train, or stimulate cognitive functions in healthy adults and people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and different types of dementia. METHODS A systematic search was performed in the Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and APA PsycNet databases until September 2022 and repeated in April 2023. The selected studies met the search terms, were peer-reviewed, included an iADL-VR intervention, and were written in English. Descriptive, qualitative studies, reviews, cognitive assessment, non-intervention studies, those unrelated to VR or iADL, those focused on motor aspects, and non-degenerative disorders were excluded. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the controlled studies. To present and synthesize the results, we organized the extracted data into three tables, including PEDro scores, participant characteristics, and study characteristics. RESULTS Nineteen studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. The total sample reached 590 participants, mostly women (72.67%). Approximately 30% were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and 20% had mild cognitive impairment. Variables such as authors and year of publication, study design, type of intervention and VR applied, duration of the intervention, main findings, and conclusions were extracted. Regarding demographic characteristics, the sample size, age, sex, years of education, neurological diagnosis, dropouts, and the city and country where the intervention took place were recorded. Almost all studies showed improvements in some or all the outcomes after the intervention, generally greater in the iADL-VR group than in the control group. CONCLUSION iADL-VR interventions could be beneficial in improving the performance of cognitive functions in older adults and people with MCI and different types of dementia. The ecological component of these tasks makes them very suitable for transferring what has been learned to the real world. However, such transfer needs to be confirmed by further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples and longer follow-up periods. This review had no primary funding source and was registered with PROSPERO under registration ID: 375166.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Buele
- SISAu Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería, Industria y Producción, Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato, Ecuador
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Communications, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - José Luis Varela-Aldás
- Centro de Investigaciones de Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación (CICHE), Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato, Ecuador
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