Immersive Virtual Reality for Dual-task Training in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Immersive Virtual Reality for Dual-task Training in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a pre-dementia state marked by a higher risk of conversion to dementia. Presently, strategies to delay the progression of MCI to dementia, such as routine exercise and cognitive activities, are limited and only moderately efficacious. Cognitive-motor dual task training, enhanced in a virtual reality environment, is a novel intervention for individuals with MCI.

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. 54 patients with MCI will be recruited from an outpatient clinic. The participants will be randomly allocated to one of the three study arms. All three groups will participate in 2 training sessions per week for 7 weeks. Each session lasts 32 to 40 minutes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60 - 80 years of age
• Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• Able to walk independently without assistance, whether from a person or a walking aid

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed dementia (at the point of recruitment)
• Presence of end stage lung, cardiac, liver and/or renal disease
• Unstable acute medical conditions that prevent one from exercising on a treadmill
• Presence of active arthritis, with symptoms affecting function
• Cerebrovascular and/or cardiac events in the last 6 months
• Parkinson's disease
• History of hip fracture within the last 6 months
• History of epilepsy with seizures in the last 2 years
• Poor vision, not correctable by glasses
• Hearing difficulty (if unable to hear well at normal conversational volume)
• Acute backache with pain affecting ambulation
• Acute lower limb pain with pain affecting ambulation
• Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy or cervical spine issues
• Chronic vertigo
• Vestibular problems, causing issues with balance