Effect of Vırtual Realıty Glasses on Mıld Cognıtıve Impaırment in Elderly

The elderly population rate is rapidly increasing in the world and in our country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, the elderly population aged 60 and over, which was 1 billion in 2019, is expected to increase to 1.4 billion in 2030 and 2.1 billion in 2050. In our country, the elderly population, which was 6 million in 2016, reached more than 8 million in 2023. (WHO 2021, TÜİK 2024). As life expectancy continues to increase, the number of elderly people who cannot live independently and need assistance due to cognitive decline is rapidly increasing worldwide (Díaz-Pérez &, Flórez-Lozano, 2018; Huang & Yang, 2022). Dementia is a collective name for a heterogeneous group of chronic neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive impairment of behavior and cognitive function (Aruanno & Garzotto, 2019; D'Cunha et al., 2019). Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage of cognitive change between normal aging and dementia; the distinction between MCI and dementia is determined by the severity of cognitive decline leading to functional impairment. MCI, also known as the "symptomatic predementia stage," causes mild deterioration in cognitive function without significant loss of independent functional abilities, social and occupational functioning in individuals (Kim et al., 2019). MCI is defined as a condition in which individuals experience memory loss greater than expected for their age but do not meet the criteria for dementia. This is a less severe degree of cognitive impairment compared to dementia and is classified as Mild Cognitive Impairment in the DSM-5. However, the capacity for independence in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living is preserved, unlike diseases such as dementia (Oliveira et al., 2021). According to WHO, there are approximately 55 million people with dementia worldwide; this number is expected to increase to 75 million by 2030 and approximately 135 million by 2050 (WHO, 2023). However, individuals with MCI typically have a higher risk of dementia than individuals of the same age without MCI (Petersen et al., 2018; Aruanno & Garzotto, 2019; Kim et al., 2019). Although pharmacological interventions are recommended for the treatment of dementia types and MCI, polypharmacy in the elderly population can cause side effects. Therefore, new and effective non-pharmacological treatments are needed (Huang & Yang 2022). Updated practice guidelines have indicated that exercise and cognitive interventions may be beneficial for improving cognitive functions in patients with MCI (Kim et al., 2019). Participation in stimulation of mental activities in older ages may be a protective factor against cognitive decline and possibly reduce the risk of developing dementia (Manera et al., 2016). Virtual reality (VR) is a new technology used for the rehabilitation of cognitive and motor functions (Tieri et al., 2018). VR is defined as a real or imaginary three-dimensional environment of computer simulation that allows its users to experience the feeling of being in a different physical place (D'Cunha et al., 2019). VR is a new branch of computer technologies that has recently been proposed for use in the field of neuropsychology. VR is a high-level computer interface that includes real-time simulation and interactions through multiple sensory channels, based on various perception components of psychophysics, primarily visual, tactile and kinesthetic perceptual sensations. The use of VR systems offers the opportunity to simulate immersive and interactive real-life scenarios to create a sense of "being there" (Zhu et al., 2021). The use of VR systems for disease treatment has already been investigated in various fields such as brain injury, post-stroke intervention, and musculoskeletal recovery. VR environments have also been used for neuropsychological assessment and problems such as phobias, stress, anxiety, exercise, and memory problems (Luque-Moreno et al., 2021; Manera et al., 2016). It has been reported that the use of VR for both stimulation and relaxation in people with cognitive decline reduces stress. These studies suggest that virtual reality can be used as a promising tool in many therapeutic and rehabilitation areas in MCI and dementia and have attracted the attention of researchers (Manera et al., 2016). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of VR intervention on MCI in elderly individuals.

Inclusion criteria

• The study included elderly individuals who were over the age of 65,
• Diagnosed with MCI by a neurologist,
• Having a Standard Mini-Mental Statement (MMSE) score between 18 and 23,
• Having a Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA) score below 21,
• Able to communicate verbally,
• Agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• The study excluded those with a history of stroke or epilepsy,
• Those with other suspected degenerative diseases or diagnosed severe psychiatric illnesses,
• Those with head trauma, thyroid disorders or other medical abnormalities that could impair cognitive function.