Virtual Reality Music for Aging Adults

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Harmehr Sekhon, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: St. Mary's Research Center, Canada

Disqualifiers: Delirium, Severe dementia, Ophthalmological conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 2 days

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how virtual reality (VR) music can improve mental health for older adults in hospital care. Participants will either experience a live-like musical performance with a VR headset or listen to the same music through a headband without immersive visuals. The goal is to determine if the VR experience provides greater mental health benefits than listening to music alone. The trial seeks participants aged 60 or older who are medically stable and currently admitted to a specific unit at St. Mary's Hospital. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance mental health care for older adults.

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 is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this virtual reality music intervention is safe for older adults?

A previous study found that immersive 360 virtual reality (VR) is safe and enjoyable for older adults. Research shows that VR can enhance the well-being of older people, including their emotional and mental health. Another study found that using a VR headset to enjoy music is practical and well-received by patients in healthcare settings. These findings suggest that VR music experiences are generally safe for older adults, with no major reports of discomfort or negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using virtual reality music for aging adults because it offers an immersive, engaging experience that goes beyond traditional music therapy. Unlike standard music therapy, which typically involves just listening to music, this method uses VR headsets to create a virtual concert experience, allowing participants to see and hear musicians as if they were attending a live performance. This immersive approach could enhance emotional and cognitive engagement, potentially offering greater therapeutic benefits. By providing a novel way to stimulate the senses, researchers hope to uncover new insights into improving mental and emotional well-being in older adults.

What evidence suggests that Virtual Reality Music might be an effective treatment for improving mental health in older adults?

This trial will compare virtual reality (VR) music experiences with a non-immersive music experience for older adults. Studies have shown that VR music experiences can be safe, enjoyable, and practical for this age group. Research indicates that VR use can enhance emotional and mental well-being. Specifically, VR music therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, has shown promise in improving emotional health for older individuals. These experiences can enhance quality of life by making participants feel more engaged and uplifted. Although more research is needed in hospital settings, early findings suggest VR music could be a valuable tool for older adults' mental health. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for aging adults who are currently hospitalized. It's designed to test if virtual reality (VR) music can improve mental health in older patients in acute care settings.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 60 years old or older.

Medical stability to participate in the trial as determined by treating physician (defined as stable vital signs, absence of new medical events and deteriorating signs)

Admitted to the GAU (5 north) at St. Mary's hospital.

Exclusion Criteria

Behavioural issues/delirium that limit participation in the study

My health is stable enough to participate in a study.

I cannot communicate in English or French.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a 15-minute music intervention via virtual reality or headband

2 days

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

2 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Virtual Reality Music

Trial Overview The study compares two groups: one experiencing music through immersive VR and another listening to music without VR. The goal is to see if the VR group shows greater improvements in mental well-being.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: VR Music- Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Treatment Group: music intervention via virtual reality (VR) The music intervention aims to reproduce the experience of a musical performance. During the intervention, the participants will wear a VR headset which will give them an immersive experience of attending a virtual performance. During the intervention, the participants will be able to see the musicians (and the stage, empty auditorium, etc.) and hear the music. The participants in the VR intervention will be seated during the 15 minutes of intervention and the research assistant will stay at their side during the entire intervention. There will be no hand-help components to the VR intervention. Should the participant express any discomfort or have any questions/concerns with the intervention, the research assistant will be available and able to answer/assist the participants.

Group II: Music- Active Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The participants in the active control group will listen, via a headband, the same music as the VR music intervention group. These participants will therefore not have an "immersive" experience as they will only hear the music (i.e they will not be able to see the musicians playing). The participants in the music intervention via headband will remain seated during the 15 minutes of the intervention. During the intervention, the research assistant will stay at their side. Should the participant express any discomfort or have any questions/concerns with the intervention, the research assistant will be available and able to answer/assist the participants.

Virtual Reality Music is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Virtual Reality Music Therapy for:

• Palliative care symptom distress
• Anxiety reduction
• Pain management

Approved in European Union as VR Music Therapy for:

• Dementia care
• Alzheimer's disease management
• Cognitive rehabilitation

Approved in Canada as Immersive 360 Virtual Reality Music Intervention for:

• Geriatric mental health improvement
• Stress reduction
• Mood enhancement

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

St. Mary's Research Center, Canada

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

1,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The immersive virtual reality system (IVRS) was found to be safe for use among older adults, with 93.6% of participants reporting no symptoms of cybersickness and no falls or pain associated with its use.

Participants expressed high satisfaction with the IVRS after a 10-minute experience, indicating that it is a feasible option for cognitive-sensory-motor training in both fallers and nonfallers among older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immersive Virtual Tasks with Motor and Cognitive Components: A Feasibility Study of Adults and Older Adult Fallers and Nonfallers. Bacha, JMR., Pereira, GAF., Silva, IBAN., et al.[2023]

A pilot study involving 23 hospitalized patients in palliative care showed that a two-day virtual reality music therapy (VR-MT) intervention was feasible and well-received, with 17 participants completing the program.

Participants reported high usability and satisfaction, with 53% giving the highest satisfaction rating, indicating that VR-MT could provide positive emotional and physical responses for patients during serious illness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy in Palliative Care: A Pilot Implementation Trial. Brungardt, A., Wibben, A., Tompkins, AF., et al.[2022]

Virtual reality (VR) shows promise for identifying and rehabilitating cognitive disorders in the elderly, with applications in improving navigational skills and daily living activities for patients with conditions like dementia and Parkinson's Disease.

While VR offers versatile and safer assessments, its complexity and potential side effects, such as nausea and disorientation, may pose challenges for elderly users, and current studies are limited in size and blinding.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Not just fun and games: applications of virtual reality in the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly. Cherniack, EP.[2022]

In a study involving 90 breast cancer patients, both virtual reality (VR) and music therapy (MT) were found to effectively reduce psychological distress during chemotherapy, improving mood and alleviating anxiety.

VR was shown to be more effective than MT in specifically reducing anxiety, depression, and fatigue, highlighting its potential as a powerful tool for enhancing treatment tolerance and quality of life in cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality and music therapy as distraction interventions to alleviate anxiety and improve mood states in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. Chirico, A., Maiorano, P., Indovina, P., et al.[2021]

Virtual reality (VR) shows promise as a safe and beneficial tool for stroke rehabilitation, with studies indicating positive outcomes in areas like upper limb rehabilitation, gait, and balance.

However, the overall quality of evidence is weak to moderate, with only three randomized controlled trials showing statistical significance, highlighting the need for more rigorous research to fully assess VR's effectiveness in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality in stroke rehabilitation: still more virtual than real. Crosbie, JH., Lennon, S., Basford, JR., et al.[2016]

A study involving 66 older adults (average age 80.5) demonstrated that immersive Virtual Reality (VR) therapy is feasible and safe for individuals with varying cognitive and physical impairments, with no reported negative side effects.

Participants generally found the VR experience enjoyable and relaxing, with 76% expressing a desire to try it again, indicating its potential as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve well-being in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Older Adults With Cognitive and/or Physical Impairments Can Benefit From Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences: A Feasibility Study. Appel, L., Appel, E., Bogler, O., et al.[2020]

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) treatments showed comparable improvements in upper limb activity and daily functioning in stroke patients when compared to conventional therapy (CT), indicating its potential as an effective rehabilitation tool.

Non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) also provided similar benefits to CT for various physical and psychological outcomes, but IVR may offer additional advantages for upper limb training, suggesting that the type of VR used can influence treatment effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer-Mediated Therapies for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mugisha, S., Job, M., Zoppi, M., et al.[2022]

The article presents a classification system for motor-cognitive interventions that utilize various digital devices, emphasizing the importance of immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in enhancing user experience and motivation for older adults.

It proposes a taxonomy of digital devices based on their level of immersiveness and human-computer interaction, highlighting the potential applications of these technologies in rehabilitation, telemedicine, and motor-cognitive training programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combining physical and virtual worlds for motor-cognitive training interventions: Position paper with guidelines on technology classification in movement-related research. Šlosar, L., Voelcker-Rehage, C., Paravlić, AH., et al.[2023]

A study involving 50 older adults showed that using a virtual reality (VR) environment with nature-based content significantly improved mood states, particularly feelings of 'good' and 'calm' mood, especially among participants with physical disabilities.

The research suggests that VR can be a safe and effective noninvasive method to enhance the well-being of older adults, particularly when they have limited access to real natural environments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using a Nature-Based Virtual Reality Environment for Improving Mood States and Cognitive Engagement in Older Adults: A Mixed-Method Feasibility Study. Kalantari, S., Bill Xu, T., Mostafavi, A., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 7 randomized controlled trials involving 265 older adults found that Virtual Reality (VR) training significantly improved balance and gait, as measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, with a strong effect size (Cohen's d = -0.91).

However, VR training did not show a significant impact on the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), indicating that while balance may improve, the fear of falling may not be adequately addressed, suggesting the need for further research to refine VR training protocols.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of virtual reality-based balance and gait in older adults with fear of movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Percy, D., Phillips, T., Torres, F., et al.[2023]

Virtual reality (VR) therapies have shown promise in effectively distracting patients from both acute and chronic pain, suggesting a new approach to pain management beyond traditional methods like opioids and physical therapy.

Clinical studies indicate that VR can be beneficial for various pain conditions, including fibromyalgia and phantom limb pain, by immersing patients in interactive environments that reduce their perception of pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Reality as a Clinical Tool for Pain Management. Pourmand, A., Davis, S., Marchak, A., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/305836/virtual-reality-music-in-geriatric-inpatients/

Virtual Reality Music in Geriatric Inpatients Immersive 360 virtual reality (VR), is an innovative technology that has been found to be feasible, safe, and enjoyable by older adults.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11904368/

Using Virtual Reality to Improve Outcomes Related ... We screened and accepted studies that reported outcomes related to patients' quality of life, provided an immersive VR intervention, and included patients with ...

3. dl.acm.org dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3505284.3529961

Immersive Music Therapy for Elderly Patients The preliminary results of immersive virtual reality music therapy experiences are presented, carried out with people between ages of 72 and 96, residents ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1608416/pdf

Acceptability and effects on mental health of a music-based ... While several studies have investigated immersive VR for improving cognitive or emotional outcomes in older adults (Restout et al., 2023; Yu et ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8832624/

Virtual reality and well-being in older adults The findings from this pilot implementation reveal that VR shows potential to enhance the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being of older adults ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11055491/

Immersive virtual reality in the promotion of health and well ... This scoping review focuses on the utility of immersive VR-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of older people living in ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06296199

NCT06296199 | Music, Virtual Reality for Patients in IUGM A VR headset-based intervention based on listening to and observing a concert of musicians playing classical music is feasible for patients hospitalized at the ...