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The Benefits of Nostalgia-Based Virtual Reality Brain Health Interventions on Nostalgia Tendencies, Life Satisfaction, Psychological Well-Being, Depression Levels, and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University
Summary
This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of a nostalgia-based cognitive training intervention delivered via Virtual Reality (VR) on emotional well-being and cognitive functioning among community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) in northern Taiwan, specifically targeting those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia. The study, conducted at National Taiwan Normal University, aims to assess whether engaging older adults in nostalgic VR experiences can enhance nostalgia proneness, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, while also reducing depressive symptoms and improving cognitive functions. Participants who meet inclusion criteria (aged 65+, capable of communicating in Mandarin or Taiwanese, without severe psychiatric conditions, with sufficient vision/hearing) will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group receiving the "Brain Health Nostalgic VR Program" or a control group engaged in routine weekly activities. Each weekly session spans 60-90 minutes in total, including setup, support, and breaks, while the actual VR usage time is 10-30 minutes depending on individual tolerance. Research staff will provide close support and safety monitoring during all sessions. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes will be measured using standardized assessments: Southampton Nostalgia Scale (SNS), Short-Form Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-SF), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Short-Form Chinese version of Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB-18), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Taiwan Version (MoCA-T). The study emphasizes participant safety and data confidentiality throughout its duration. Findings aim to demonstrate VR's potential as a non-invasive, preventive strategy for cognitive decline and mental health enhancement among older populations.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
65 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
90
Start Date
2025-04-29
Completion Date
2026-03-30
Last Updated
2025-09-09
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Brain Health Nostalgic VR Program
The "Brain Health Nostalgic VR Program" is a culturally tailored virtual reality intervention integrating nostalgic content from Taiwanese culture (e.g., vintage photographs, familiar objects, historical TV clips, traditional settings) with interactive cognitive training tasks. The program targets seven cognitive domains: attention, imagination and creativity, observation, memory, reasoning, reading comprehension, and thinking. Each weekly session spans 60-90 minutes, with 10-30 minutes of actual VR use based on participant tolerance, each participant will use VR for no more than 30 minutes per session before taking a break. The intervention is delivered once per week over a 12-week period in long-term care settings, with researcher support provided throughout.
Locations (1)
National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan