Using Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Therapy in Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: IVR-CST (Immersive Virtual Reality Cognitive Stimulation Therapy), Intervention Name: Conventional CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Basic parameters: from 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Hong Kong
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Utilization of Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (IVR-CST) for Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Overview
The proposed study aims to investigate the potential of IVR-CST in improving cognition of people with MCI, and as well the association of eye movement during therapy and treatment outcomes of IVR-CST. Four research questions have been proposed and listed as follows: 1. Is IVR-CST a feasible treatment for elderly with MCI? 2. Is IVR-CST an efficacious treatment for improving cognition of elderly with MCI? 3. Is IVR-CST more efficacious than conventional CST (i.e., without IVR) in improving the cognition of elderly with MCI? 4. Is eye-tracking data collected during therapy associated with treatment outcomes of IVR CST?
Interventions
- Behavioral IVR-CST (Immersive Virtual Reality Cognitive Stimulation Therapy)
IVR-CST involves 14 sessions of cognitive stimulation therapy conducted twice a week in a virtual reality environment. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and utilizes head-mounted displays (HMDs) to immerse participants in engaging, themed activities. The therapy aims to enhance cognitive function and social interaction through interactive and stimulating virtual experiences tailored for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). - Behavioral Intervention Name: Conventional CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy)
Conventional CST consists of 14 sessions of cognitive stimulation therapy conducted twice a week, each lasting about 45 minutes. In this arm, participants engage in group activities using physical materials, such as photos, pictures, and real objects, rather than virtual reality. The therapy focuses on providing cognitive stimulation through discussions and activities designed to improve cognitive function and social engagement among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Primary outcome measures
- Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) [Time frame: From 1-week pre-intervention to 13 weeks post-intervention]
- Digit Span Forward and Backward Tasks [Time frame: From 1-week pre-intervention to 13 weeks post-intervention]
- Verbal Fluency of Semantic Category [Time frame: From 1-week pre-intervention to 13 weeks post-intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Chinese Version of the Modified Barthel Index [Time frame: From 1-week pre-intervention to 13 weeks post-intervention]
- Hong Kong Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale [Time frame: From 1-week pre-intervention to 13 weeks post-intervention]
- Feasibility Outcomes and Users' Experience [Time frame: Throughout the intervention period (from weeks 1-7 of intervention)]
- Semi-Structured Interview for IVR-CST Group [Time frame: Immediately post-intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- elderly aged 60 years or above,
- a diagnosis of MCI made by a psychiatrist, or a score of 16-21 out of 30 in the Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC, 31), with upper and lower cutoff scores for MCI as suggested by the test. HKBC has been validated in Hong Kong with satisfactory sensitivity (0.88) and specificity ((0.81) in differentiating subjects with MCI and healthy individuals,
- ability to speak and comprehend Cantonese,
- normal or corrected-to-normal binocular vision and hearing,
- absence of physical illness/disability to prevent them from IVR-CST participation, 6, compatible with IVR exposure in the 10-minute IVR trial without major signs of cybersickness, based on the symptoms given in the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire
Exclusion criteria
- concurrent participation in other clinical therapy trials,
- incompatibility with IVR exposure such as complaints of nausea, headache, or other severe discomforts during trial use,
- a diagnosis of dementia or other psychiatric/neurological diseases such as depression, stroke, brain trauma, Parkinson's disease
- hearing/visual/upper limb impairments that hinder CST/IVR-CST participation,
- prior CST treatment,
- Use of medication for MCI/dementia, e.g., aducanumab
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Hong Kong · 1 center
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hong Kong
Publications
- Wong WWS, Wong GHY, Choy JCP, Pui Li DS, Lo YL. Utilization of Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (IVR-CST) for elderly with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled pilot study protocol. PLoS One. 2025 Aug 26;20(8):e0330686. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0330686. eCollection 2025. PMID 40857307
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06838494 · HSEARS20241010009 · 22231471