The Feasibility Usability and Effectiveness of Fully Immersive Horticultural-based Virtual Reality Cognitive Training for Community-dwelling Elderly

Overview

The pilot study will be a novel investigation of the usability and feasibility of leisure activities-based fully immersive VR cognitive training systems for cognitive training. We will recruit healthy aged individuals and occupational therapists for usability plus feasibility evaluation and perform the comparison of the effect with the developed VR intervention on psychological, daily life function and quality of life outcomes in populations experiencing cognitive decline. The fully-immersive VR system applied with horticultural therapy will be conducted in cognitive training and it was equipped with a headset and a pair of controllers for motion estimation and monitoring in a virtual environment. The findings of the research will effectively lead to advancement of the fully immersive leisure-based virtual reality cognitive training for elderly with cognitive decline.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Occupational therapists
  1. Have clinical experience for more than one year
• Healthy aged Individuals:
  1. An initial MoCA scores ≧ 20
  2. age between 60 to 85
  3. ability to follow instructions and perform tasks
  4. willing to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Occupational therapists
  1. History of severe dizziness or epilepsy
  2. Unstable physical conditions accompanied by neurological or other orthopedic diseases may affect immersive VR experience
  3. Recent diagnosis of psychiatric disorders
• Healthy aged individuals:
  1. An initial MoCA scores lower than 20
  2. History of psychiatric disorders, major perceptual (visual or auditory) impairments, migraine or epilepsy, motion-sickness sensitive, unable to provide informed written consent due to severe cognitive impairment

[Effect study]

Inclusion Criteria:

1. An initial MoCA scores ≧ 20
2. age between 60 to 85
3. ability to follow instructions and perform tasks
4. willing to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. An initial MoCA scores lower than 20
2. History of psychiatric disorders, major perceptual (visual or auditory) impairments, migraine or epilepsy, motion-sickness sensitive, unable to provide informed written consent due to severe cognitive impairment