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Exploring the Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Caregiver Burden: Longitudinal Observational Study
Ling‐Chun Huang, Ching‐Fang Chien, Yuan‐Han Yang. JMIR Serious Games, 2025-07-16
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Significant improvements were observed after 1 month of VR intervention in both caregiver burden (Z=-3.095, P=.002, r=0.34) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Z=-2.929, P=.003, r=0.32). At the two-month follow-up, neuropsychiatric symptoms remained significantly improved (Z=-4.327, P<.001, r=0.48), although caregiver burden returned to preintervention levels. Regarding specific neuropsychiatric symptoms, significant improvements were observed immediately after the intervention in dysphoria or depression, anxiety, and sleep or nighttime behaviors. These effects were sustained over time, with additional long-term improvements noted in euphoria or elation, apathy or indifference, irritability or lability, aberrant motor behavior, and appetite or eating behaviors. A 1-month immersive VR reminiscence intervention appears to improve neuropsychiatric symptoms and temporarily reduce caregiver burden in people with dementia, with some symptom improvements lasting up to 2 months. These findings suggest that VR may offer a meaningful therapeutic option in day care settings. Future studies with control groups, including nonimmersive 2D conditions, and comparisons to traditional reminiscence therapy are needed to validate and expand upon these findings.
Key findings
- Significant improvements were observed after 1 month of VR intervention in both caregiver burden (Z=-3.095, P=.002, r=0.34) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Z=-2.929, P=.003, r=0.32).
- At the two-month follow-up, neuropsychiatric symptoms remained significantly improved (Z=-4.327, P<.001, r=0.48), although caregiver burden returned to preintervention levels.
- Regarding specific neuropsychiatric symptoms, significant improvements were observed immediately after the intervention in dysphoria or depression, anxiety, and sleep or nighttime behaviors.
- These effects were sustained over time, with additional long-term improvements noted in euphoria or elation, apathy or indifference, irritability or lability, aberrant motor behavior, and appetite or eating behaviors.
- A 1-month immersive VR reminiscence intervention appears to improve neuropsychiatric symptoms and temporarily reduce caregiver burden in people with dementia, with some symptom improvements lasting up to 2 months.
Why it matters
In this longitudinal observational study, a one-month immersive virtual reality reminiscence intervention improved neuropsychiatric symptoms and temporarily reduced caregiver burden, with some symptom improvements lasting up to two months. The authors say future studies with control groups are needed to validate these findings.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants82
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR Serious Games) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Serious Games: journal h-index 68 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 82 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 | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yuan‐Han Yang: h-index 21 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Kaohsiung Medical University: institution h-index 330 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40669069) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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
Huang, L., Chien, C., & Yang, Y. (2025). Exploring the Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Caregiver Burden: Longitudinal Observational Study. JMIR Serious Games. https://doi.org/10.2196/73044
Vancouver
Huang L, Chien C, Yang Y. Exploring the Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Caregiver Burden: Longitudinal Observational Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2025. doi:10.2196/73044. PMID: 40669069.
BibTeX
@article{huang2025-40669069,
author = {Huang, Ling‐Chun and Chien, Ching‐Fang and Yang, Yuan‐Han},
title = {{Exploring the Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Caregiver Burden: Longitudinal Observational Study}},
journal = {JMIR Serious Games},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2196/73044},
pmid = {40669069},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/73044}
}
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