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The Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention Program on Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Control Trial
Thapa N, Park HJ, Yang JG, Son H, Jang M, Lee J, Kang SW, Park KW et al.. Journal of clinical medicine, 2020-04-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This study aimed to investigate the association between a virtual reality (VR) intervention program and cognitive, brain and physical functions in high-risk older adults. In a randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 68 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The MCI diagnosis was based on medical evaluations through a clinical interview conducted by a dementia specialist.
Key findings
- In a randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 68 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- The MCI diagnosis was based on medical evaluations through a clinical interview conducted by a dementia specialist.
- Cognitive assessments were performed by neuropsychologists according to standardized methods, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and frontal cognitive function: trail making test (TMT) A & B, and symbol digit substitute test (SDST).
- Resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured in eyes open and eyes closed conditions for 5 minutes each, with a 19-channel wireless EEG device.
Why it matters
This randomized controlled trial gave a virtual reality-based intervention to 68 older adults with mild cognitive impairment and measured cognition, brain activity and physical function. It is a small, single trial, so it cannot yet show whether such programs prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants68
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of clinical medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Medicine: journal h-index 188 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 68 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 230 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.8 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 129 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kyung Won Park: h-index 37 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Seoul National University: institution h-index 1,053 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32365533) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 67 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/jcm9051283
- PubMed: 32365533
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Medicine →
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Thapa, N., Park, H. J., Yang, J. G., Son, H., Jang, M., Lee, J., et al. (2020). The Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention Program on Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Control Trial. Journal of clinical medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051283
Vancouver
Thapa N, Park HJ, Yang JG, Son H, Jang M, Lee J, et al. The Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention Program on Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Control Trial. Journal of clinical medicine. 2020. doi:10.3390/jcm9051283. PMID: 32365533.
BibTeX
@article{thapa2020-32365533,
author = {Thapa, N. and Park, H. J. and Yang, J. G. and Son, H. and Jang, M. and Lee, J. and Kang, S. W. and Park, K. W. and others},
title = {{The Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention Program on Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Control Trial}},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3390/jcm9051283},
pmid = {32365533},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051283}
}
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