Beyond cognitive rehabilitation: immersive but noninvasive treatment for elderly

With the rapid increase of the aging population in Italy, the number of subjects with cognitive deficits also increases. Two of the most damaged cognitive domains since the first phase of decline are Executive Functions and Spatial Memory. The general aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel VR-based mixed training protocol for improving executive functions and spatial memory in patients with cognitive decline. To achieve this objective, the neuropsychological performance of two groups of a subjects with cognitive decline were compared before and at the end of the training period. One group underwent a classic rehabilitation protocol, the other underwent the new VR-based protocol. The results showed an improve in executive functioning in the VR group after the training period.