The Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Exergaming Combined With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Executive Functions in Healthy Older Adults
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: transcranial direct current stimulation, sham transcranial direct current stimulation, VR-exergaming, VR-video.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Healthy Older Adults. Basic parameters: 60 years — 70 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
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- 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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Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the acute effects of immersive virtual reality (VR)-based exergaming combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on executive functions in healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does VR-based exergaming combined with tDCS improve executive function performance in healthy older adults compared with a control condition? * Do single interventions (tDCS alone or VR-based exergaming alone) improve executive function performance compared with the control condition? * Does the combined intervention produce greater improvements in executive function performance than either intervention alone? Researchers will compare four intervention conditions to evaluate differences in executive function performance following each session. Participants will: * Complete four intervention sessions in a randomized crossover sequence, with a washout period of at least 7 days between sessions * Receive the following intervention conditions: * sham-tDCS + VR-video * tDCS + VR-video * sham-tDCS + VR-exergaming * tDCS + VR-exergaming * Complete executive function assessments immediately after each session, including: * the Flanker task for inhibitory control * the more-odd shifting task for cognitive flexibility * the Corsi block-tapping task for working memory
Interventions
- Device transcranial direct current stimulation
The anodal electrode is positioned over the left DLPFC (F3), and the cathodal electrode is placed over the right supraorbital area. The transcranial direct current stimulation is applied for 20 min at an intensity of 2 mA, with 15 s ramp-up and 15 s ramp-down. - Device sham transcranial direct current stimulation
The anodal electrode is positioned over the left DLPFC (F3), and the cathodal electrode is placed over the right supraorbital area. Sham stimulation is applied in the same locations for 20 min with only 15s ramp-up and 15s ramp-down stimulation to mimic the sensory experience of real stimulation. - Behavioral VR-exergaming
For the VR-exergaming condition, participants engage in an interactive rhythm-based fitness game called PowerBeatsVR. It immerses participants in a virtual exercise environment accompanied by dynamic musical beats, with punching and tracking movements. The VR-exergaming consisted of four cycles of 3.5 min, each separated by a 2-min rest interval, for a total duration of 20 min - Behavioral VR-video
For the VR-video condition, participants view a mild plant documentary called Journey of Chinese Plants through the same VR headset. VR-video intervention consisted of four cycles of 3.5 min, each separated by a 2-min rest interval, for a total duration of 20 min
Primary outcome measures
- Reaction time and accuracy of inhibitory control are assessed by the Flanker task. [Time frame: Immediately after the intervention.]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Reaction time and accuracy of cognitive flexibility are assessed by more odds shifting task. [Time frame: Immediately after the intervention.]
- Scores of working memory are assessed by the Corsi Block-Tapping Task [Time frame: Immediately after the intervention.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
(1) Age between 60 to 70 years old; (2) Right-handed (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Chinese version) > 40); (3) Normal overall cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Beijing version) ≥ 26).
Exclusion criteria
(1) Musculoskeletal injury; (2) neurological/neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease); (3) history of brain infections or cerebrovascular diseases; (4) psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia); (5) unstable or chronic medical conditions (e.g., cardiac disease, seizures (personal/family history)); (6) hearing and visual impairments (e.g., color blindness and conditions severely affecting the ability to see the screen or distinguish colors); (7) metal implants (e.g., pacemakers); (8) brain stimulation or exercise training intervention within the past 6 months; (9) failure to meet safety criteria for brain stimulation (e.g., pregnancy)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07591194 · 2024458H