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The Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Training in Elderly
Bauer ACM, Andringa G.. Gerontology, 2020-09-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The number of elderly is growing rapidly, including those that struggle with cognitive decline and, consequently, activities of daily living. Developing interventions that slow down cognitive decline would greatly benefit the autonomy of these elderly, as well as their caretakers. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive and interactive human-computer interface with real-time simulation that is suggested to be a promising tool to improve cognitive functioning. This literature review discusses the features of immersive VR, including its opportunities and limitations, that are of special relevance for improving cognition in elderly. First, the high flexibility of VR allows for personalized and safe training of potentially harmful situations and isolated aspects of tasks. Second, VR's dynamic and real-time feedback on performance provides a labor-extensive tool for caretakers in elderly care. Third, the acquisition of high resolution data enables the exposure of subtle changes over time, relevant for detecting the nature and extent of cognitive changes in elderly, including those with dementia. Fourth, immersive VR has been related to cybersickness. Finally, VR is immersive and enables the perception and expression of emotions, motor behaviors, and multiple senses. Aged subjects are found to have sparing of emotional learning and show increased reliance on multisensory integration for learning. Moreover, they experience high levels of flow, motivation, and presence in VR setups. Despite the clear potential of immersive VR, the studies available are small scale and have not been replicated. The digital illiteracy of elderly and healthcare personnel form an additional barrier for implementation. Hence, while replication of outcomes and standardization of VR interventions is required before it can be used in standard care, VR may provide a particularly effective tool for training cognition in elderly.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Bauer, A. C. M., & Andringa, G. (2020). The Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Training in Elderly. Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509830
Vancouver
Bauer ACM, Andringa G. The Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Training in Elderly. Gerontology. 2020. doi:10.1159/000509830. PMID: 32906122.
BibTeX
@article{bauer2020-32906122,
author = {Bauer, A. C. M. and Andringa, G.},
title = {{The Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Cognitive Training in Elderly}},
journal = {Gerontology},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1159/000509830},
pmid = {32906122},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000509830}
}
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Key findings
- Aged subjects are found to have sparing of emotional learning and show increased reliance on multisensory integration for learning.
- Moreover, they experience high levels of flow, motivation, and presence in VR setups.
- Despite the clear potential of immersive VR, the studies available are small scale and have not been replicated.
- The digital illiteracy of elderly and healthcare personnel form an additional barrier for implementation.
- Hence, while replication of outcomes and standardization of VR interventions is required before it can be used in standard care, VR may provide a particularly effective tool for training cognition in elderly.
Why it matters
This review describes ways immersive virtual reality might be used to train cognition and detect cognitive changes in older people. However, the available studies are small scale and have not been replicated, so it is too early to say whether this helps treat or prevent dementia.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Gerontology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Gerontology: journal h-index 151 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 172 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.5 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.7× 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 112 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Gerda Andringa: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Utrecht University: institution h-index 1,157 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32906122) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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