Abstract
Objectives
This review aimed to summarize the currently available premium evidence to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) on executive function (EF) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to detect what level of immersive VR would be the most beneficial.
Method
Five electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched. Our research team screened the studies and extracted data according to our inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of each study was rated using the PEDro scale. When three or more studies reported the same outcome, a meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1.
Results
Finally, 14 randomized controlled trials with a total of 518 participants were included. VR training had an overall positive effect on cognitive flexibility, global cognitive function, attention, and short-term memory compared to the control groups. Additionally, semi-immersive VR was more effective in improving cognitive flexibility compared to the other two types of VR. The application of non-immersive level of VR had a significant effect on global cognitive function, attention, short-term memory, and cognitive flexibility.
Conclusion
VR may be effective in improving EF in older adults with MCI. However, the level of immersive VR that would be the most beneficial on EF still needs to be investigated with a greater number of well-designed studies.
This review aimed to summarize the currently available premium evidence to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) on executive function (EF) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to detect what level of immersive VR would be the most beneficial.
Method
Five electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched. Our research team screened the studies and extracted data according to our inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of each study was rated using the PEDro scale. When three or more studies reported the same outcome, a meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1.
Results
Finally, 14 randomized controlled trials with a total of 518 participants were included. VR training had an overall positive effect on cognitive flexibility, global cognitive function, attention, and short-term memory compared to the control groups. Additionally, semi-immersive VR was more effective in improving cognitive flexibility compared to the other two types of VR. The application of non-immersive level of VR had a significant effect on global cognitive function, attention, short-term memory, and cognitive flexibility.
Conclusion
VR may be effective in improving EF in older adults with MCI. However, the level of immersive VR that would be the most beneficial on EF still needs to be investigated with a greater number of well-designed studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 663-673 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Aging and Mental Health |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 30 May 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Apr 2023 |
Keywords
- cognitive functioning
- mild cognitive impairment
- executive function
- virtual reality