Community-Based Virtual Reality Interventions in Older Adults with Dementia and/or Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Introduction: Virtual reality devices have been widely used for the rehabilitation among older people with cognitive impairments. They enable the user to navigate in three-dimensional environments, which are constructed by a computer. Recent studies have been focused on the cognitive benefits of virtual reality for people with cognitive deficits. The current study aimed to investigate the overall impact of community-based virtual reality interventions in older adults with dementia and/or cognitive impairment.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases were searched for the years 2010-2022.

Results: Of the 245 articles 20 met the inclusion criteria. The results of the current systematic review indicated that virtual reality improved older adults' cognitive and motor skills and increased their positive emotions while minimizing less positive ones. However, there is insufficient data of its impact on their overall quality of life.

Conclusion: There is a need to implement and evaluate interventions that examine its impact not only on cognitive functioning, but also on other aspects of older people with cognitive deficits.