Benefit of Virtual Reality Headset Use on Apathy in Older Adults With Major Neurocognitive Disorders

Launched by RIVAGES · Sep 18, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how using virtual reality headsets can help reduce feelings of apathy in older adults with major neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia. Apathy is when someone shows little interest or motivation in activities or social interactions. The study will involve participants using a virtual reality headset for three sessions over three weeks. During these sessions, a healthcare professional will guide them, and another professional will observe how they respond, including their engagement and tolerance of the headset.

To participate, individuals need to be over 65 years old, living in nursing homes or long-term care, and have been diagnosed with a major neurocognitive disorder. They should also have corrected vision and no significant hearing issues. However, those with certain medical conditions, like epilepsy or severe neurological problems, are not eligible. By comparing how participants feel before and after the virtual reality sessions, researchers hope to find out if this technology can positively affect their motivation and engagement in everyday activities.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Persons over 65 years of age
• • Persons living in nursing homes or hospitalized in long-term care
• • Persons with correct vision or vision corrected by glasses
• • People with no hearing problems, or with hearing loss corrected by a hearing aid
• • Person with a major neurocognitive disorder
• • Person with a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) cognitive score \<26
• • Individuals with documented apathy
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Person with a history of epilepsy
• • Persons wearing a pacemaker
• • Person with open wounds of the face or skull
• • Disabling headache or neck pain
• • Person at the immediate end of life or in active palliative care
• • Person with a contagious disease
• • People who are bedridden or unable to get into a wheelchair
• • Persons with severe neurological impairment
• • Person with severe behavioral disorders endangering self or staff
• • Persons unable to give oral consent