Abstract
The development of neuropsychological assessment methods using virtual reality (VR) is a valid and promising option for the detection of cognitive impairment in the older people, focusing on activities composed of tasks of multiple demands. This study verified the association of age, schooling, and general cognitive status on the performance of neurologically healthy older adults in ECO-VR, a VR task of multiple demands for neuropsychological assessment. A total of 111 older adults answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults (third edition), and the ECO-VR. Correlation analyses, multiple linear regression, and comparisons between groups (effects by age and schooling groups) were used to evaluate the results. The ECO-VR total score was significantly associated with age, years of education, MMSE, and Vocabulary subtest. The linear regression models identified that age was the main predictor for total score and rule breaking of ECO-VR. According to the univariate analysis, it was identified the main effect of age group and schooling group in the total ECO-VR score, but there was no interaction effect. The results are discussed in order to understand the role of sociodemographic characteristics in the performance of older adults in a VR task of multiple demands. It was also verified the possibility use of VR for neuropsychological assessment of older adults.
Highlights
Episodic memory and executive functions are among the main cognitive changes in normal aging process, directly impacting the functional capacity of older people (Salthouse, 2010; Harada et al, 2013)
The analyzes were performed based on mean ECO-virtual reality (VR) scores, age, schooling, and general cognitive status (MMSE and Vocabulary subtest)
The present study investigated the influence of age, schooling, and general cognitive status on the performance of ECO-VR, an ecological task in multiple demands for neuropsychological assessment of older adults, through two objectives
Summary
Episodic memory and executive functions are among the main cognitive changes in normal aging process, directly impacting the functional capacity of older people (Salthouse, 2010; Harada et al, 2013). The investigations are made through self-report questionnaires, which are prone to subjective judgment of informer. In this sense, the development of ecological tasks has received prominence in the field of clinical neuropsychology, meeting the search for more effective alternatives in the investigation of functional characteristics. The development of ecological tasks has received prominence in the field of clinical neuropsychology, meeting the search for more effective alternatives in the investigation of functional characteristics In this context, the development of neuropsychological assessment methods using virtual reality (VR) is a valid and promising option for the detection of cognitive impairment in the elderly (Okahashi et al, 2013), focusing on activities composed of tasks of multiple demands
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