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NCT Number: NCT07370844

VR Training to Improve Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery

This clinical study aims to investigate whether virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive training can help improve postoperative cognitive function in elderly non-cardiac surgery patients with pre-existing cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). As the global aging population undergoes an increasing number of surgical procedures, perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) have emerged as a serious complication among surgical patients, potentially prolonging hospital stays and increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The study employs an innovative VR system that integrates eye-tracking cognitive assessment with interactive rehabilitation games to evaluate and train patients' cognitive function prior to non-cardiac and non-cranial surgeries. Conducted at Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University First Hospital, and Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, this research specifically targets patients undergoing general surgery, orthopedic surgery, and other non-cranial/non-cardiac procedures. It seeks to validate whether this technology-based intervention can effectively enhance postoperative cognitive function in this population while exploring its underlying mechanisms. The findings may offer a practical solution for protecting cognitive health in elderly patients during recovery from routine surgical procedures.

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Key information

Conditions

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Confusion Delirium Emergence Delirium Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurocognitive Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Cognitive Function Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms Vascular Diseases

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age≥60;
  • Preoperative MRI-confirmed cerebral small vessel disease;
  • Scheduled to undergo non-cardiac, non-craniotomy procedures under general anesthesia;
  • ASA physical status classification: I-III;
  • No use of cognitive-enhancing medications within 3 months prior to surgery;
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to cranial MRI (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, metallic implants, etc.);
  • Intolerance to VR equipment during pre-training adaptation (e.g., dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or other subjective discomfort);
  • Severe visual or auditory impairment;
  • Severe hepatic or renal dysfunction;
  • Pre-existing neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or active delirium);
  • Inability to complete preoperative neuropsychological assessments (e.g., dementia, deaf-mutism, or communication barriers);
  • Use of sedatives, antidepressants, or history of psychoactive substance abuse/alcoholism

Treatment and study plan

Virtual reality cognitive function training

Device

Participants will receive VR-based cognitive training over 4-5 days prior to surgery, with three daily 30-minute sessions (8:00-10:00 AM, 12:00-2:00 PM, and 5:00-7:00 PM), ensuring a total preoperative training duration ≥6 hours. The intervention utilizes an immersive VR environment that simulates real-world scenarios and tasks. Training modules target multiple cognitive domains, including memory, executive function, calculation, and abstract reasoning, designed as engaging, game-like activities with a gradual learning curve. Each participant's regimen is personalized based on baseline cognitive assessments or physician prescriptions, adhering to the "6-hour rule" for standardized efficacy evaluation. The system incorporates adaptive difficulty adjustment, dynamically modifying task complexity in response to real-time performance.

Virtual scene intervention

Device

The control group will receive non-interactive VR exposure using identical equipment and session duration as the training group (3×30-minute daily sessions for 4-5 days, totaling ≥6 hours), with all interactive functions disabled to eliminate potential media-related biases (e.g., 2D/3D cognitive load differences from tablet-based interventions) and ensure between-group differences stem solely from interactive training while maintaining blinding integrity through equivalent hardware deployment.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in postoperative cognitive score from baseline

    Time frame: At admission, on postoperative day 5 (or before discharge), and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively

    Trained research personnel (certified by neurologists) administer the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to evaluate eight cognitive domains (visuospatial ability, executive function, memory, attention, calculation, language, abstract thinking, and orientation), with total scores ranging 0-30 (normal cognition defined as ≥26).We defined an increase in MoCA of ≥ 2 points as cognitive improvement

Secondary outcomes

  1. Occurrence of postoperative delirium

    Time frame: From the first day to the fifth day after surgery or from the first day after surgery to before discharge

    Follow up personnel use the Confusion Assessment Method(CAM) scale to evaluate the occurrence of postoperative delirium after anesthesia surgery

  2. Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation（ALFF） of brain regions

    Time frame: At enrollment and immediately after completion of the preoperative intervention

    Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to measure changes in brain regions activation

  3. Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation（fALFF) of brain regions

    Time frame: At enrollment and immediately after completion of the preoperative intervention

    Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to measure changes in brain regions activation

  4. Regional Homogeneity（ReHo） of brain regions

    Time frame: At enrollment and immediately after completion of the preoperative intervention

    Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to assess the synchronization of neuronal activity within brain regions

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Zhengqian Li, Associate Chief Physician

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86 156 1190 8458

Ziyuan Shen

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86 150 0220 8972

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Peking University Third Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Peking University First Hospital
  • Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

Registry information

Official study title

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of VR Training to Improve Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 27, 2026

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.

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