title: Not just fun and games: applications of virtual reality in the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the evidence in the published medical literature suggesting the potential applications of virtual reality (VR) for the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-systematic literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VR, despite its more common usage by younger persons, is a potentially promising source of techniques useful in the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly. Systems employing VR can include desktop and head-mounted visual displays among other devices. Thus far, published studies have described VR-based applications in the identification and treatment of deficits in navigational skills in ambulation and driving. In addition, VR has been utilised to enhance the ability to perform activities of daily living in patients with dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's Disease. Such investigations have thus far been small, and unblinded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VR-based applications can potentially offer more versatile, comprehensive, and safer assessments of function. However, they also might be more expensive, complex and more difficult to use by elderly patients. Side effects of head-mounted visual displays include nausea and disorientation, but, have not been reported specifically in older subjects.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Institute, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL 33125, USA. evan.cherniack@va.gov
authors.forename: E Paul
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Cherniack
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface