School of Nursing, Jilin University, 965 Xinjiang Street, Changchun, 130000, China.
Senior Officials Inpatient Ward, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China.
Curr Alzheimer Res. 2020;17(2):126-140. doi: 10.2174/1567205017666200317100421.
To delay the decline in cognition and reduce the incidence of dementia, the precise detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is necessary. The application of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in this detection can overcome the shortage of traditional paper-and-pencil tests.
This review aimed to summarize the research progress of the detection of MCI using VR.
Eight databases from their inception to November 19, 2019, were systematically searched for studies applying VR in the detection of MCI. A thematic analysis was conducted according to the specific detection purpose and the main corresponding cognitive domains assessed were summarized; characteristics of the VR applications were also summarized.
Twenty-eight studies were finally included. The detection purposes included discrimination between healthy controls and those with MCI, discrimination between aMCI subtypes, detection of MCI patients at risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and discrimination between MCI and AD. VR tasks assessing spatial memory were applicable for all detection purposes, and the assessment of combinations of memory and executive function seemed more sensitive. Executive function and intentional episodic memory could be assessed to discriminate among healthy controls, individuals with MCI and those with AD. Incidental episodic memory was effective in detecting MCI with hippocampal atrophy. The most common characteristics of the VR applications were the use of semi-immersion, joysticks or gamepad interactions and simple, one-time behavioral assessments.
VR applications are promising in the detection of MCI, but further research is needed for clinical use.
为了延缓认知能力下降和减少痴呆症的发生，需要精确检测轻度认知障碍（MCI）。虚拟现实（VR）技术在这种检测中的应用可以克服传统纸笔测试的不足。
本综述旨在总结使用 VR 检测 MCI 的研究进展。
系统检索了从建库至 2019 年 11 月 19 日的 8 个数据库中应用 VR 检测 MCI 的研究。根据具体的检测目的进行主题分析，总结主要对应的认知域评估；还总结了 VR 应用的特点。
最终纳入了 28 项研究。检测目的包括区分健康对照组和 MCI 组、区分 aMCI 亚型、检测有患阿尔茨海默病（AD）风险的 MCI 患者、区分 MCI 和 AD。评估空间记忆的 VR 任务适用于所有检测目的，而评估记忆和执行功能组合的任务似乎更敏感。执行功能和意向性情景记忆可用于区分健康对照组、MCI 组和 AD 组。偶然情景记忆可有效检测海马萎缩的 MCI。VR 应用最常见的特点是使用半沉浸式、操纵杆或游戏手柄交互和简单的一次性行为评估。
VR 应用在 MCI 检测中具有很大的应用潜力，但需要进一步的研究以用于临床。
