title: A succinct overview of virtual reality technology use in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: We provide a brief review and appraisal of recent and current virtual reality (VR) technology for Alzheimer's disease (AD) applications. We categorize them according to their intended purpose (e.g., diagnosis, patient cognitive training, caregivers' education, etc.), focus feature (e.g., spatial impairment, memory deficit, etc.), methodology employed (e.g., tasks, games, etc.), immersion level, and passive or active interaction. Critical assessment indicates that most of them do not yet take full advantage of virtual environments with high levels of immersion and interaction. Many still rely on conventional 2D graphic displays to create non-immersive or semi-immersive VR scenarios. Important improvements are needed to make VR a better and more versatile assessment and training tool for AD. The use of the latest display technologies available, such as emerging head-mounted displays and 3D smart TV technologies, together with realistic multi-sensorial interaction devices, and neuro-physiological feedback capacity, are some of the most beneficial improvements this mini-review suggests. Additionally, it would be desirable that such VR applications for AD be easily and affordably transferable to in-home and nursing home environments.
authors.affiliation: Life Supporting Technologies (LifeSTech), ETSI Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: García-Betances
authors.affiliation: Life Supporting Technologies (LifeSTech), ETSI Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Arredondo Waldmeyer
authors.affiliation: Life Supporting Technologies (LifeSTech), ETSI Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fico
authors.affiliation: Life Supporting Technologies (LifeSTech), ETSI Telecomunicaciones, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: María Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Umpiérrez
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive rehabilitation; mild cognitive impairment; virtual environments; virtual reality