Virtual reality: the FBK-TS4.0 study published in the scientific journal “NATURE”

Elderly man wearing virtual reality headset have fun with technology, portrait at home. Generative AI model

30/01/2024 "Use of personalized virtual environments in people with cognitive impairment": this is the title of the study published in the prestigious international high-impact journal Scientific Reports - Nature (Sci Rep - ed. Springer Nature) and conducted by FBK researcher Susanna Pardini, as part of TrentinoSalute4.0 activities.

The results of the survey, which had involved 23 elderly guests of the APSP ‘Margherita Grazioli’ in Povo (Trento, Italy) last year, had shown that virtual reality, in particular immersion in a “natural” and relaxing environment thanks to a 3D visor, was safe and had an impact on promoting the state of relaxation and positive emotions.

Susanna Pardini – FBK researcher and author of the study

Author of the scientific paper Susanna Pardini, from the University of Padua, meanwhile, has completed her PhD in the Digital Health Research Unit (dHRes) of Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Center for Digital Health and Wellbeing. But he is preparing to embark on a new analysis: “We had investigated,” Pardini said, “whether having seniors with cognitive impairment try virtual reality could cause adverse effects associated with the use of the 3D visor and whether this experimental procedure could merit further, more rigorous investigations, in terms of evaluating clinical and statistical efficacy. Our study yielded satisfactory results and confirmed what previous research had pointed out. Therefore, based on the literature and the positive data that emerged, we have structured a new investigation protocol, which is to be evaluated by the Ethics Committee of the Trento province healthcare System (APSS) shortly. This time we will try to investigate the role of the use of virtual environments in typical behaviors of people with dementia, on the management of responsive behaviors, such as wandering, “aggressive” behaviors, or other behavioral activation that people with dementia may manifest verbally or with physical actions under certain circumstances during activities that are not pleasing to the person (for example, when eating, or during other daily routine).”

Oscar Mayora – FBK researcher and DHRes Unit Head

“These kinds of studies”- explained Oscar Mayora, head of FBK’s dHRes Research Unit – may become digital therapy in the future. At FBK, we are exploring the potential of virtual reality in health care, including in other contexts, such as palliative care, pain therapy and autism therapies, where we have already initiated some specific projects.”