Completed

NCT Number: NCT06793384

Virtual Reality in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Visually Impaired Older Individuals with Dementia

Both visual impairment and dementia are prevalent in the elderly population. Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based intervention for people with mild-to-moderate dementia. Virtual reality (VR) has been used in cognitive rehabilitation. However, the efficacy of CST and the feasibility of incorporating VR into therapy targeting people with dementia and visual impairment (PwDVI) have rarely been explored. The current pilot study addressed two issues: 1) To study the efficacy of conventional CST on PwDVI in different cognitive domains and 2) To explore the feasibility and efficacy of VR-CST on PwDVI in various cognitive domains.

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Key information

Conditions

Dementia Patients

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Hong Kong Society for the Blind

Hong Kong, 000000

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Cantonese speakers;
suspected or having a medical diagnosis of dementia, with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5-minute protocol (MoCA-5) score ranging from 2 to 17, which is equal to the Cantonese Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ranging from 10 to 24 by using the conversion table from Wong et al,
a diagnosis of mild to moderate visual impairment determined by an optometrist,
no other disability including physical illness, learning disability and severe hearing impairment that may affect participation in group activity,
not currently on psychiatric medication/cognitive intervention, (6) no history of other neurological diseases, and

(7) did not receive any prior CST.

Exclusion criteria

currently on psychiatric medication/cognitive intervention, (6) no history of other neurological diseases,
currently on psychiatric medication/cognitive intervention, (6) no history of other neurological diseases,
prior exposure to CST

Treatment and study plan

Virtual reality based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (VR-CST)

Behavioral

In the VR-CST condition, participants wore a head-mounted display (HMD; model: DPVR P1 Pro Headset) for the themed activities in every session except sessions 1 and 14. In these two sessions, group physical activities (such as passing a ball from one participant to another) were conducted, so no HMDs were used. In other sessions, panoramic images (e.g., wet market) and videos (e.g., the neighborhood surroundings) prepared by the project team were mainly used, supplemented by 2-dimensional images /videos in which preparing panoramic images/videos was deemed impossible. Such a situation occurred in Session 5 (current affairs), in which news clips or captions from newspaper websites served as more appropriate content for discussion than self-created panoramic images/videos.

Conventional Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (Conventional CST)

Behavioral

In the conventional CST group, 2-dimensional images/videos illustrating content identical to the VR-CST condition were displayed via tablet computers (see Table 2 for details) in which participants could manipulate the size of the image depicted or the pace of the videos with the help of the facilitator/therapy assistant.

Primary outcomes

The Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Visually Impaired (HKMoCA-VI)

Time frame: The assessment was administered three times 15 days before and after treatment.

It is a standarized assessment for global cognition for people with visual impairment.

Secondary outcomes

Holden Communication Scale

Time frame: It was administered once one week before and after the intervention.

It is a questionnaire to evaluate the participants' communication and social behavior from a caregiver's perspective. Ratings were given by the formal carers of the old age homes for the visually imapired.
Cantonese version of the Amsterdam-Nijmegan Everyday Language Test (CANELT)

Time frame: Three times 15 days before and after treatment

The test portrays 20 real-life situations encompassing different communicative functions, was conducted to evaluate functional communication quantitively. Scores were given based on the accuracy and completeness of the main concepts produced by the subjects.
Procedural description of making a ham-and-egg sandwich

Time frame: The assessment was administered three times 15 days before and after treatment.

A picture depicting a loaf of bread, ham and an egg were presented to the subject and s/he will be asked to describe the procedures of making an egg-and-ham sandwich as detailed as possible.
Synonym judgement

Time frame: The assessment was administered three times 15 days before and after treatment.

A pair of words were presented auditorily and the participants were asked to judge if the pair of words were synonymous or not.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Other

Collaborators

The Hong Kong Society for the Blind
The University of Hong Kong
Tung Wah College

Registry information

Official study title

Applying Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) and Virtual Reality-based CST on People with Concurrent Visual Impairment and Dementia: a Feasibility Pilot Study

Acronym: VR-CST-PwDVI

Important dates

Study start: 2019
Primary completion: 2020
Study completion: 2020
First posted: Jan 27, 2025
Registry last updated: Jan 27, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.