Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline
Recent technological advances have introduced novel therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study introduces a novel virtual reality (VR) intervention consisting of aesthetically pleasing and relaxing immersive videos paired with evocative music for patients with or without cogn...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4627 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849322389697986560 |
|---|---|
| author | Francesco Carlomagno Vitoantonio Bevilacqua Antonio Brunetti Elena Sibilano Marianna Delussi Mariangela Lippolis Raffaele Diomede Elvira Brattico |
| author_facet | Francesco Carlomagno Vitoantonio Bevilacqua Antonio Brunetti Elena Sibilano Marianna Delussi Mariangela Lippolis Raffaele Diomede Elvira Brattico |
| author_sort | Francesco Carlomagno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent technological advances have introduced novel therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study introduces a novel virtual reality (VR) intervention consisting of aesthetically pleasing and relaxing immersive videos paired with evocative music for patients with or without cognitive decline. The goal of this intervention is to improve the mood, evoke autobiographical memories in, and enhance the overall well-being of elderly individuals, across stages of cognitive decline (from absent to severe). Twenty-one elderly participants (5 cognitively healthy, 13 with a mild cognitive decline, 2 with a moderate decline, and 1 with a severe decline) were exposed to immersive 360-degree videos depicting both familiar and unfamiliar, pleasant and calming environments, accompanied by emotionally evocative, pleasant, and soothing music. The results demonstrated high levels of immersion and predominantly positive emotional responses, with several participants reporting autobiographical memory recall triggered by the VR stimulation. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in mood over time, regardless of cognitive status, supporting the effectiveness of the intervention. While there were some side effects of fatigue or transient anxiety, the experience was generally perceived as engaging and meaningful. This feasibility study adds to the acceptability and potential clinical utility of VR interventions and provides a justification for future larger trials aimed at the integration of immersive technologies into cognitive rehabilitation interventions for individuals at different stages of cognitive decline. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca39fbf92a004491895ea2d738816c7a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca39fbf92a004491895ea2d738816c7a2025-08-20T03:49:22ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159462710.3390/app15094627Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive DeclineFrancesco Carlomagno0Vitoantonio Bevilacqua1Antonio Brunetti2Elena Sibilano3Marianna Delussi4Mariangela Lippolis5Raffaele Diomede6Elvira Brattico7Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, ItalyCentro Servizi per la Famiglia “Libertà”, 70123 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, ItalyRecent technological advances have introduced novel therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study introduces a novel virtual reality (VR) intervention consisting of aesthetically pleasing and relaxing immersive videos paired with evocative music for patients with or without cognitive decline. The goal of this intervention is to improve the mood, evoke autobiographical memories in, and enhance the overall well-being of elderly individuals, across stages of cognitive decline (from absent to severe). Twenty-one elderly participants (5 cognitively healthy, 13 with a mild cognitive decline, 2 with a moderate decline, and 1 with a severe decline) were exposed to immersive 360-degree videos depicting both familiar and unfamiliar, pleasant and calming environments, accompanied by emotionally evocative, pleasant, and soothing music. The results demonstrated high levels of immersion and predominantly positive emotional responses, with several participants reporting autobiographical memory recall triggered by the VR stimulation. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in mood over time, regardless of cognitive status, supporting the effectiveness of the intervention. While there were some side effects of fatigue or transient anxiety, the experience was generally perceived as engaging and meaningful. This feasibility study adds to the acceptability and potential clinical utility of VR interventions and provides a justification for future larger trials aimed at the integration of immersive technologies into cognitive rehabilitation interventions for individuals at different stages of cognitive decline.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4627virtual realitymild cognitive impairmentcognitive rehabilitationmusic therapyautobiographical memorymultisensory stimulation |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Carlomagno Vitoantonio Bevilacqua Antonio Brunetti Elena Sibilano Marianna Delussi Mariangela Lippolis Raffaele Diomede Elvira Brattico Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline Applied Sciences virtual reality mild cognitive impairment cognitive rehabilitation music therapy autobiographical memory multisensory stimulation |
| title | Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline |
| title_full | Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline |
| title_fullStr | Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline |
| title_short | Proof-of-Concept Study on the Use of Virtual Reality with Evocative and Aesthetic Content for Elderly Individuals with Cognitive Decline |
| title_sort | proof of concept study on the use of virtual reality with evocative and aesthetic content for elderly individuals with cognitive decline |
| topic | virtual reality mild cognitive impairment cognitive rehabilitation music therapy autobiographical memory multisensory stimulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4627 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francescocarlomagno proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT vitoantoniobevilacqua proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT antoniobrunetti proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT elenasibilano proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT mariannadelussi proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT mariangelalippolis proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT raffaelediomede proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline AT elvirabrattico proofofconceptstudyontheuseofvirtualrealitywithevocativeandaestheticcontentforelderlyindividualswithcognitivedecline |