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Effect of Individual Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Programs on Cognitive Function and Depression in Middle-Aged Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
Kim DR, Moon E, Shin MJ, Yang YA, Park JH.. JMIR mental health, 2023-10-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Given the increasing incidence of early-onset Alzheimer disease, strategies for early diagnosis and swift treatment interventions are crucial for mitigating cognitive problems in women and middle-aged individuals who face a high risk of cognitive impairment. Objective This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of individual cognitive training programs based on virtual reality (VR), a nonpharmacological intervention, on cognitive function and depression in middle-aged women at risk of cognitive impairment. It used VR technology, which has recently been recognized as a promising tool. Methods We administered a VR-based cognitive training program for 30 minutes daily, twice a week, for 12 weeks (24 sessions). This study included middle-aged women residing in older adults' welfare facilities in G-gu, Busan, from May to August 2021. A total of 60 participants were randomly divided into the training (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. Cognitive and depressive functions were assessed using the Korean versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (K-MoCA), Digit Span Test (DST), Korean-Color Word Stroop Test (K-CWST), and Short Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) before the intervention. The training group underwent a VR-based cognitive training program, whereas the control group was educated to maintain regular daily activities. The same assessments were performed 12 weeks after treatment. Results A comparison of the mean scores before and after K-MoCA in the training group revealed a significant increase from 24.87 (SD 2.62) to 27.50 (SD 1.70; P Conclusions The VR-based cognitive training programs significantly enhanced cognitive function and reduced depression in middle-aged women. Consequently, these programs are considered beneficial nonpharmacological cognitive training interventions for middle-aged women at high risk of cognitive impairment. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000049752; https://tinyurl.com/z5du989z.
Key findings
- Results A comparison of the mean scores before and after K-MoCA in the training group revealed a significant increase from 24.87 (SD 2.62) to 27.50 (SD 1.70; P Conclusions The VR-based cognitive training programs significantly enhanced cognitive function and reduced depression in middle-aged women.
Why it matters
In this 60-person trial, middle-aged women who did virtual reality cognitive training showed significant improvement in cognitive scores and reduced depression compared with controls. The participants were middle-aged women at risk of cognitive impairment rather than people with Alzheimer's disease, so it does not show that this training treats, cures or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants30
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR mental health) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | JMIR Mental Health: journal h-index 100 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 30 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 20 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jong‐Hwan Park: h-index 34 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Pusan National University: institution h-index 456 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37878378) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kim, D. R., Moon, E., Shin, M. J., Yang, Y. A., & Park, J. H. (2023). Effect of Individual Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Programs on Cognitive Function and Depression in Middle-Aged Women: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mental health. https://doi.org/10.2196/48912
Vancouver
Kim DR, Moon E, Shin MJ, Yang YA, Park JH. Effect of Individual Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Programs on Cognitive Function and Depression in Middle-Aged Women: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mental health. 2023. doi:10.2196/48912. PMID: 37878378.
BibTeX
@article{kim2023-37878378,
author = {Kim, D. R. and Moon, E. and Shin, M. J. and Yang, Y. A. and Park, J. H.},
title = {{Effect of Individual Virtual Reality Cognitive Training Programs on Cognitive Function and Depression in Middle-Aged Women: Randomized Controlled Trial}},
journal = {JMIR mental health},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.2196/48912},
pmid = {37878378},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/48912}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.