50 Participants Needed

Virtual Reality for Depression in Alzheimer's Disease

(VRN Trial)

AS
Overseen ByAshnie Sukhu, BSc
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as depression affect up to 90% patients with dementia. Non-pharmacological treatment of BPSD, can be difficult to access, require caregiver support, travel, and often have long waiting lists. Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative, portable, immersive, and accessible technology which can be used in-home. More information is required on the feasibility of using VR in-home with older adults with dementia.Our study will offer a 4-week program of 15-minutes sessions, twice per week nature-based VR program for BPSD delivered in-home by virtual reality (VR). Additionally, caregivers will have the option of taking part in the study and provide feedback regarding the VR intervention. If successful, this project has the potential to prolong aging in place for individuals with BPSD, as BPSD is a significant factor in institutionalization.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

Is virtual reality safe for people with Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments?

Research shows that virtual reality is generally safe for older adults, including those with Alzheimer's and cognitive impairments. In studies, participants experienced no negative side effects like dizziness or disorientation, and they tolerated the headsets well, often enjoying the experience.12345

How does the Nature-based Virtual Reality Intervention treatment for depression in Alzheimer's disease differ from other treatments?

The Nature-based Virtual Reality Intervention is unique because it uses immersive virtual reality experiences to engage patients with Alzheimer's disease, potentially offering a non-drug approach to alleviate depression by simulating calming natural environments, which may differ from traditional pharmacological or psychosocial treatments.678910

Who Is on the Research Team?

EB

Eric Brown, MD

Principal Investigator

CAMH and UofT

HS

HARMEHR SEKHON, PhD

Principal Investigator

CAMH and McGill/St. Mary's Research Centre

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease who are experiencing depression. It's designed to test if nature-based virtual reality (VR) can help reduce their symptoms without needing to leave home. Caregivers of participants may also join the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Investigator judgement on whether the participant is comfortable with technology
I have WiFi and a smart device for health apps and WebEx.
I am 50 years old or older.
See 4 more

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have severe visual or hearing impairments.
Patient Health Questionnaire score 15-27 and/or score of 1 or 2 in section E question 1 of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
Unstable medical or psychiatric condition, including substance use based on an investigator opinion
See 1 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a nature-based VR program for BPSD, delivered in-home, with 15-minute sessions twice per week

4 weeks
8 sessions (in-home)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Nature-based Virtual Reality Intervention
Trial Overview Participants will use a VR program at home, featuring nature scenes, for four weeks—15 minutes per session, twice a week—to see if it helps with depression related to dementia.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Treatment GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will receive nature-based applications available on the Oculus platform, as well as nature-based 360 videos with the same content as the control group however in a 360 format.
Group II: Control GroupActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will receive YouTube links to watch nature-based videos on a device (e.g., a tablet).

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials
388
Recruited
84,200+

St. Mary's Research Center, Canada

Collaborator

Trials
11
Recruited
1,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Current virtual reality (VR) technologies for Alzheimer's disease applications are underutilizing immersive features, often relying on conventional 2D displays instead of fully engaging 3D environments.
To enhance the effectiveness of VR in diagnosing and training for Alzheimer's, improvements such as advanced head-mounted displays, multi-sensory interactions, and neuro-physiological feedback are recommended, along with making these technologies accessible for home and nursing home use.
A succinct overview of virtual reality technology use in Alzheimer's disease.García-Betances, RI., Arredondo Waldmeyer, MT., Fico, G., et al.[2022]
The Virtual Reality Forest (VRF) experience positively impacted the mood and engagement of 10 residents with dementia, leading to increased pleasure and alertness during the session.
Despite the positive effects, residents also reported higher levels of fear and anxiety compared to a normative sample, indicating that while VR can enhance quality of life, it may also evoke some negative emotions that need to be addressed.
Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Forest on People With Dementia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study.Moyle, W., Jones, C., Dwan, T., et al.[2019]
A 79-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease successfully relearned cooking tasks using non-pharmacological interventions, including virtual reality techniques, over a training period of four days per task.
The improvements in her cooking abilities were stable over time and transferred to real-life situations, suggesting that virtual reality can be an effective tool for enhancing autonomy in daily activities for Alzheimer's patients.
The potential of virtual reality-based training to enhance the functional autonomy of Alzheimer's disease patients in cooking activities: A single case study.Foloppe, DA., Richard, P., Yamaguchi, T., et al.[2018]

Citations

A succinct overview of virtual reality technology use in Alzheimer's disease. [2022]
Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Forest on People With Dementia: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study. [2019]
The potential of virtual reality-based training to enhance the functional autonomy of Alzheimer's disease patients in cooking activities: A single case study. [2018]
Feasibility of Group-Based Multiple Virtual Reality Sessions to Reduce Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Persons Living in Residential Aged Care. [2022]
Older Adults With Cognitive and/or Physical Impairments Can Benefit From Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences: A Feasibility Study. [2020]
Subtypes of depression among patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. [2010]
Diagnosis and treatment of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. [2007]
Prevalence of depression in Alzheimer's disease and validity of Research Diagnostic Criteria. [2017]
Altered Cerebral Blood Flow in Alzheimer's Disease With Depression. [2021]
Depression in vascular dementia is quantitatively and qualitatively different from depression in Alzheimer's disease. [2015]
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