To assess the efficacy of a virtual reality-based program in improving cognition and affect in patients with mild cognitive impairment during inpatient treatment.
Approach:
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial comparing an experimental group receiving virtual reality intervention alongside standard treatment with a control group receiving standard treatment only.
Participants: Sixty-two patients aged 60 to 89 with mild cognitive impairment were enrolled, with 31 in each group.
Assessment Tools: Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and emotional well-being was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Key Findings:
Both groups showed significant improvements in cognitive function and reduction in depression symptoms after 2 weeks.
The experimental group had a greater improvement in MoCA scores (2.6 ± 2.1) compared to the control group (1.3 ± 1.5).
The experimental group also showed a more significant reduction in depressive symptoms on the HADS depression subscale (-1.6 ± 3.2 vs -0.3 ± 1.5).
Anxiety subscale improvements were statistically insignificant between groups.
