Two Immersive Virtual Reality Tasks for the Assessment of Spatial Orientation in Older Adults with and Without Cognitive Impairment: Concurrent Validity, Group Comparison, and Accuracy Results.

OBJECTIVE: Spatial disorientation is common in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and preclinical individuals with AD biomarkers. However, traditional neuropsychological tests lack ecological validity for the assessment of spatial orientation and to date, there is still no gold standard. The current study aimed to determine the validity and accuracy of two virtual reality tasks for the assessment of spatial orientation. METHODS: We adapted two spatial orientation tasks to immersive virtual environments: a "survey to route" task in which participants had to transfer information from a map to their body position within a maze [Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Test (SOIVET) Maze], and an allocentric-type, route learning task, with well-established topographic landmarks (SOIVET Route). A total of 19 MCI patients and 29 cognitively healthy older adults aged 61-92 participated in this study. Regular neuropsychological assessments were used for correlation analysis and participant performances were compared between groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for accuracy. RESULTS: The SOIVET Maze correlated with measures of visuoperception, mental rotation, and planning, and was not related to age, educational level, or technology use profile. The SOIVET Route immediate correlated with measures of mental rotation, memory, and visuoconstruction, and was influenced only by education. Both tasks significantly differentiated MCI and control groups, and demonstrated moderate accuracy for the MCI diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Traditional neuropsychological assessment presents limitations and immersive environments allow for the reproduction of complex cognitive processes. The two immersive virtual reality tasks are valid tools for the assessment of spatial orientation and should be considered for cognitive assessments of older adults.

Applicability of an immersive virtual reality system to assess egocentric orientation of older adults.

BACKGROUND: Spatial orientation is a cognitive domain frequently compromised in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and may be one of its first clinical manifestations. Some studies have shown that allocentric integration with egocentric spatial information seems to be impaired in this pathology. There is no consensus on how best to assess spatial orientation and traditional tests lack ecological validity, but, recently, virtual reality (VR) has provided new opportunities for this assessment. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual task developed to assess spatial orientation, the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test (SOIVET-Maze) in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Forty-three older adults were included in the study, 24 without cognitive impairment and 19 with mild cognitive impairment. Applicability was assessed by the Witmer and Singer Sense of Presence Questionnaire and a questionnaire for adverse events of cybersickness. To assess stability, participants were assessed twice with an interval of 7 to 14 days, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated between visits. The t test or the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare applicability and stability between groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding applicability. A strong correlation between the first and second day of testing was found in the mild cognitive impairment group. CONCLUSION: The SOIVET-Maze task showed excellent applicability and good stability, favoring its clinical application for the evaluation of spatial orientation in older adults.

ANTECEDENTES: A orientação espacial é um domínio cognitivo frequentemente comprometido em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer (DA) e pode ser uma das suas primeiras manifestações clínicas. Alguns estudos demonstraram que a integração alocêntrica com informações espaciais egocêntricas parece prejudicada nessa patologia. Não há um consenso sobre qual a melhor forma de avaliar a orientação espacial e os testes tradicionais carecem de validade ecológica; porém, recentemente, a realidade virtual (RV) proporcionou novas oportunidades para esta avaliação. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a aplicabilidade e estabilidade de uma tarefa virtual imersiva desenvolvida para avaliar a orientação espacial, o Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test (SOIVET-Maze) em idosos com e sem comprometimento cognitivo leve. MéTODOS: Quarenta e três idosos foram incluídos no estudo, 24 sem comprometimento cognitivo e 19 com comprometimento cognitivo leve. A aplicabilidade foi avaliada pelo Witmer and Singer Sense of Presence Questionnaire e um questionário para eventos adversos de cybersickness. Para avaliar a estabilidade, os participantes foram avaliados 2 vezes com intervalo de 7 a 14 dias, e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse foi calculado entre as visitas. O teste t ou o teste de Mann-Whitney foi utilizado para comparar a aplicabilidade e estabilidade entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto à aplicabilidade. Uma forte correlação entre o primeiro e o segundo dia de teste foi encontrada no grupo de comprometimento cognitivo leve. CONCLUSãO: A tarefa SOIVET-Maze apresentou excelente aplicabilidade e boa estabilidade, favorecendo sua aplicação clínica para avaliação da orientação espacial em idosos.

Functional impact on adults and older people after hospitalization by Covid-19.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospitalization by Covid-19 can cause persistent functional consequences after hospital discharge due to direct and indirect effects of SARS-COV-2 in several organs and systems of the body added to post-intensive care syndrome and prolonged bed rest. These impacts can lead to dependency in activities of daily living, mainly in older people due to aging process and functional decline. This study aimed to compare the effects of hospitalization by Covid-19 on functional capacity of adults and older people and to identify its associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 159 survivors of hospitalization by Covid-19 after 1 month from discharge at Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo, divided into groups: adults (aged < 60 years) and older people (aged ≥ 60 years). Those who did not accept to participate, without availability or without ability to understand the questionnaires were excluded. Functional capacity was assessed by the Barthel Index and patients were classified according to their scores. Data analysis was performed in JASP Statistics program and the sample was compared between the age groups. Wilcoxon test was applied to compare before and after periods, Mann-Whitney test was used for between groups comparison. We adopted alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The total Barthel Index median score was lower 1 month after hospital discharge than in the pre-Covid-19 period. Older people had worse functional status than adults before and also showed greater impairment after hospital discharge. Both groups showed lower Barthel Index classification than before, and older people presented more functional dependence than adults in both periods. Age, sarcopenia and frailty were associated factors. DISCUSSION: Hospitalization by Covid-19 impacts functional capacity after 1 month from discharge, especially in older people. Age, sarcopenia and frailty are associated factors. These results suggest need for care and rehabilitation of Covid-19 survivors.

Applicability of an immersive virtual reality system for assessing route learning in older adults.

Spatial orientation is defined as the ability to find one's way around an environment, follow familiar routes, recognize places, and learn new routes. Spatial disorientation is one of the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and traditional cognitive evaluation lacks ecological validity. Therefore, new assessment methods are needed for the early identification of this cognitive impairment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual reality (VR) system developed to assess route learning between older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The study sample included 43 older adults: 22 without MCI and 23 with MCI. Applicability was assessed based on the recording of adverse events and the sense of presence reported through questionnaires. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the applicability of the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Test (SOIVET)-Route task between older adults with and without MCI. Both short- and long-term stabilities of the task were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The mean age of participants was 71.4 years (SD=5.5). A minimum number of adverse events (mean=1.46; SD=2.11) and high levels of presence (mean=138.04; SD=14.80) were reported, and there was no difference between groups with and without MCI. A good to excellent correlation was found for short-term stability (CCI 0.78) and a reasonable correlation was found for long-term stability (CCI 0.58). Conclusions: The VR system was applicable for older adults and showed a good to excellent correlation for short-term stability.

Orientação espacial é a capacidade de encontrar um caminho em um ambiente, seguir rotas familiares, reconhecer lugares e aprender novas rotas. A desorientação espacial é um dos primeiros sintomas da doença de Alzheimer, e a avaliação cognitiva tradicional carece de validade ecológica. Diante disso, novos métodos de avaliação são necessários para a identificação precoce desse comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a aplicabilidade e a estabilidade de um sistema de realidade virtual imersivo desenvolvido para avaliar a aprendizagem de rotas entre idosos com e sem comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL). Métodos: Participaram do estudo 43 idosos: 22 sem CCL e 23 com CCL. A aplicabilidade foi avaliada por meio do registro de eventos adversos e pela sensação de presença relatados. O teste de Mann-Whitney foi aplicado para comparar a aplicabilidade da tarefa SOIVET-Route entre idosos com e sem CCL. A estabilidade da tarefa em curto e longo prazo foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC). Resultados: A idade média dos participantes foi de 71,4 anos (desvio padrão ­ DP=5,5). Em relação à aplicabilidade, encontramos mínimo relato de sintomas adversos (média=1,46; DP=2,11) e altos níveis de sensação de presença (média 138,04; DP=14,80), e não houve diferença entre os grupos com e sem CCL. Ao analisarmos a estabilidade, encontramos de boa a excelente correlação em curto prazo (CCI=0,78) e uma correlação razoável em longo prazo (CCI=0,58). Conclusões: O sistema de realidade virtual foi aplicável em idosos e mostrou boa correlação na estabilidade de curto prazo.

Applicability of an immersive virtual reality system to assess egocentric orientation of older adults / Aplicabilidade de um sistema de realidade virtual imersivo para avaliar a orientação egocêntrica de idosos

Abstract Background Spatial orientation is a cognitive domain frequently compromised in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and may be one of its first clinical manifestations. Some studies have shown that allocentric integration with egocentric spatial information seems to be impaired in this pathology. There is no consensus on how best to assess spatial orientation and traditional tests lack ecological validity, but, recently, virtual reality (VR) has provided new opportunities for this assessment. Objectives To analyze the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual task developed to assess spatial orientation, the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test (SOIVET-Maze) in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. Methods Forty-three older adults were included in the study, 24 without cognitive impairment and 19 with mild cognitive impairment. Applicability was assessed by the Witmer and Singer Sense of Presence Questionnaire and a questionnaire for adverse events of cybersickness. To assess stability, participants were assessed twice with an interval of 7 to 14 days, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated between visits. The t test or the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare applicability and stability between groups. Results There was no significant difference between the groups regarding applicability. A strong correlation between the first and second day of testing was found in the mild cognitive impairment group. Conclusion The SOIVET-Maze task showed excellent applicability and good stability, favoring its clinical application for the evaluation of spatial orientation in older adults.

Resumo Antecedentes A orientação espacial é um domínio cognitivo frequentemente comprometido em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer (DA) e pode ser uma das suas primeiras manifestações clínicas. Alguns estudos demonstraram que a integração alocêntrica com informações espaciais egocêntricas parece prejudicada nessa patologia. Não há um consenso sobre qual a melhor forma de avaliar a orientação espacial e os testes tradicionais carecem de validade ecológica; porém, recentemente, a realidade virtual (RV) proporcionou novas oportunidades para esta avaliação. Objetivos Analisar a aplicabilidade e estabilidade de uma tarefa virtual imersiva desenvolvida para avaliar a orientação espacial, o Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test (SOIVET-Maze) em idosos com e sem comprometimento cognitivo leve. Métodos Quarenta e três idosos foram incluídos no estudo, 24 sem comprometimento cognitivo e 19 com comprometimento cognitivo leve. A aplicabilidade foi avaliada pelo Witmer and Singer Sense of Presence Questionnaire e um questionário para eventos adversos de cybersickness. Para avaliar a estabilidade, os participantes foram avaliados 2 vezes com intervalo de 7 a 14 dias, e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse foi calculado entre as visitas. O teste t ou o teste de Mann-Whitney foi utilizado para comparar a aplicabilidade e estabilidade entre os grupos. Resultados Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto à aplicabilidade. Uma forte correlação entre o primeiro e o segundo dia de teste foi encontrada no grupo de comprometimento cognitivo leve. Conclusão A tarefa SOIVET-Maze apresentou excelente aplicabilidade e boa estabilidade, favorecendo sua aplicação clínica para avaliação da orientação espacial em idosos.

Applicability of an immersive virtual reality system for assessing route learning in older adults / Aplicabilidade de um sistema de realidade virtual imersivo para avaliação da aprendizagem de rotas em idosos

ABSTRACT. Spatial orientation is defined as the ability to find one's way around an environment, follow familiar routes, recognize places, and learn new routes. Spatial disorientation is one of the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and traditional cognitive evaluation lacks ecological validity. Therefore, new assessment methods are needed for the early identification of this cognitive impairment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual reality (VR) system developed to assess route learning between older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The study sample included 43 older adults: 22 without MCI and 23 with MCI. Applicability was assessed based on the recording of adverse events and the sense of presence reported through questionnaires. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the applicability of the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Test (SOIVET)-Route task between older adults with and without MCI. Both short- and long-term stabilities of the task were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The mean age of participants was 71.4 years (SD=5.5). A minimum number of adverse events (mean=1.46; SD=2.11) and high levels of presence (mean=138.04; SD=14.80) were reported, and there was no difference between groups with and without MCI. A good to excellent correlation was found for short-term stability (CCI 0.78) and a reasonable correlation was found for long-term stability (CCI 0.58). Conclusions: The VR system was applicable for older adults and showed a good to excellent correlation for short-term stability.

RESUMO. Orientação espacial é a capacidade de encontrar um caminho em um ambiente, seguir rotas familiares, reconhecer lugares e aprender novas rotas. A desorientação espacial é um dos primeiros sintomas da doença de Alzheimer, e a avaliação cognitiva tradicional carece de validade ecológica. Diante disso, novos métodos de avaliação são necessários para a identificação precoce desse comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a aplicabilidade e a estabilidade de um sistema de realidade virtual imersivo desenvolvido para avaliar a aprendizagem de rotas entre idosos com e sem comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL). Métodos: Participaram do estudo 43 idosos: 22 sem CCL e 23 com CCL. A aplicabilidade foi avaliada por meio do registro de eventos adversos e pela sensação de presença relatados. O teste de Mann-Whitney foi aplicado para comparar a aplicabilidade da tarefa SOIVET-Route entre idosos com e sem CCL. A estabilidade da tarefa em curto e longo prazo foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC). Resultados: A idade média dos participantes foi de 71,4 anos (desvio padrão — DP=5,5). Em relação à aplicabilidade, encontramos mínimo relato de sintomas adversos (média=1,46; DP=2,11) e altos níveis de sensação de presença (média 138,04; DP=14,80), e não houve diferença entre os grupos com e sem CCL. Ao analisarmos a estabilidade, encontramos de boa a excelente correlação em curto prazo (CCI=0,78) e uma correlação razoável em longo prazo (CCI=0,58). Conclusões: O sistema de realidade virtual foi aplicável em idosos e mostrou boa correlação na estabilidade de curto prazo.

Empowering preadolescents with ABI through metacognition: preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this randomized clinical trial study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention program based on social mediation, cooperative learning and metacognition (Metacognitive Dimension) in preadolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI). PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: Participants were 29 ABI preadolescents: 14 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group (average age, 10.4 y.o.; average time of lesion, 5.3 years). Evaluations were conducted 3 months after the start of the intervention, using the Evaluation Scale of Elementary School Learning Strategies (ESESLS) to assess metacognitive strategies, Self-Concept Scale for Children (SCSC) and Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF). RESULTS: The experimental group had superior outcomes to the control. The results of metacognitive strategies (ESESLS) and self-concept (SCSC) were better in the experimental than in the control group (p< 0.05). BRIEF did not reveal any significant differences between the groups, although we observed better results in the experimental group for 5 sub items of the scale, in the broader index and global executive composite score. CONCLUSION: Three months of an intervention based on cooperative learning helped preadolescents with acquired brain injury develop metacognitive strategies and improve self-concept, thereby helping empower the preadolescents in their social relationships.