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Reminiscence therapy using virtual reality technology affects cognitive function and morale of elderly with dementia
Author(s) -
Tominari Maho,
Uozumi Ryuji,
Becker Carl,
Kinoshita Ayae
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.047538
Subject(s) - reminiscence , dementia , cognition , fluency , psychology , virtual reality , verbal fluency test , intervention (counseling) , medicine , clinical psychology , physical therapy , gerontology , neuropsychology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology , computer science , human–computer interaction , mathematics education , disease , pathology
Background Japan already confronts a super‐aged society in which the number of dementia patients is increasing drastically. We need to improve care methods to meet the needs of elderly dementia patients. Thus, we developed a novel reminiscence therapy care program using a virtual reality (VR) tool for elderly people with mild dementia; then we evaluated the effect in comparison to the conventional reminiscence therapy. Method We measured 52 people with mild cognitive impairment using the Mini‐Mental State Examination, Revised PGC Morale Scale, Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects, Trail Making Tests A and B, and Word Fluency Test before and after 8 weeks of reminiscence therapy. We randomly assigned them to reminisce with either conventional still photos or VR panoramas. We compared their results using t‐tests. Result The scores of MMSE totals showed improvement for both groups, but it did not achieve the primary objective. The considerable improvement was seen only in the VR panoramas group. The PGC morale scale scores rose considerably higher in the VR panoramas group than in the still photo group. No definite differences were observed in other scales, neither between the two groups nor before and after the intervention. Conclusion Reminiscence therapy produced cognitive improvement regardless of whether still photos or VR panoramas were used as stimuli. However, reminiscence therapy with VR panoramas produced greater improvement in participants’ morale, which may enhance patients’ well‐being.