Self-Adaptive Immersive Virtual Reality Serious Game to Enhance Motor Skill Learning and Attention in Older Adults

Summary

While scientific evidence emphasizes the detrimental effect of sedentary behavior on health, the literature suggests that, on average, older adults spend 75% of their days in a sedentary manner, and often isolated (Petrusevski 2020). This lack of physical activity and social interaction not only leads to an increase in functional limitations and the risk of worsening an existing chronic disease but also elevates the risk of mortality. Furthermore, older adults face progressive functional decline, both in motor and cognitive aspects, as a result of aging, contributing to inactivity and sedentary behavior (Botö 2021).

The literature suggests that new technologies such as immersive virtual reality (iVR) and serious games serve as effective means to promote active leisure, thereby breaking isolation and reducing sedentary behavior. The development of these new technologies is also promising for objectively and quantitatively measuring motor and cognitive activity (e.g., kinematics, reaction time).

Serious games are defined as games whose primary objective is more focused on learning than entertainment. For instance, they allow the integration of physical and cognitive activity programs into a playful activity, conducive to long-term adherence. Their effectiveness is starting to be studied in hospitalized older adults (Cuevas-Lara 2021), especially as they also help combat age-related functional decline. Indeed, they provide the opportunity to promote and measure activity through enjoyable and self-administered exercises.

However, despite the growing interest in serious games, the impact of self-adaptive serious games, compared to traditional (non-adaptive) serious games, on motor skill learning and attention function in older adults remains unclear. This gap in knowledge necessitates a rigorous investigation. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial seeks to address this gap and achieve the following objectives:

1. Compare the effect of a self-adaptive serious game to a non-adaptive serious game on motor skill learning and attention in older adults.
2. Enhance the understanding of how motor skill learning in immersive virtual reality translates to older adults' activities of daily living.

Conditions

• Older Adults
• Aging Well
• Aging

Interventions

DEVICE

Self-adaptive serious game

A self-adaptive serious game in immersive virtual reality using the device MetaQuest 1 or 2

DEVICE

Non-adaptive serious game

A non-adaptive serious game in immersive virtual reality using the device MetaQuest 1 or 2

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université Catholique de Louvain

  collaborator OTHER

• Laval University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Charles Sebiyo Batcho, PT, PhD · Laval University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Max Age

95 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-09

Primary Completion

2024-06-06

Completion

2024-06-06

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations