Background: The purpose of this study was to confirm whether fully-immersive virtual reality instrumental activities of daily living training is safe and feasible for people with mild dementia. Methods:The virtual reality program contents include simulation of instrumental activities of daily living training. Feasibility was assessed by means of responses to a self-report satisfaction questionnaire and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire; and by analyzing the level of participants' immersion. Researchers assessed the instrumental activities of daily living scores, cognitive functioning, and mood changes pre-and post-intervention.Results: A total of seven participants with mild dementia were recruited. The mean immersion score was 50.42±7.89 points, and the mean adherence was 83.71±6.10 points. Overall, the participants found the activities satisfying. Six participants experienced negligible side effects and one exhibited moderate side effects. After the training, the instrumental activities of daily living scores improved significantly (P=0.042).Performance on the Word List Delayed Recall test and Trail Making Test B showed improvements in all participants.Conclusions: Fully-immersive, virtual reality-based, instrumental activities of daily living training is feasible for people with mild dementia and provides them with a high level of satisfaction and immersion. This program can help improve their capacities to carry out activities of daily living, their cognitive functioning, and mood. However, further research is needed for fully-immersive virtual reality instrumental activities of daily living training before it can be considered as a treatment option in people with mild dementia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to confirm that fully-immersive virtual reality (VR) instrumental activities of daily living (I-ADL) training is (1) safe and feasible for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and (2) helpful for patients’ cognitive function and ADL performanceMethods: The VR system included simulation of I-ADL. The feasibility was assessed by using self-report satisfaction questionnaire, the level of the participants’ immersion, and a Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Before after VR training, the researchers assesse I-ADL scores, cognitive function, mood.Results: A total of 7 patients with MCI and mild dementia were recruited. Overall, the patients were highly satisfied. The mean immersion score was 50.42±7.89 points and the mean adherence was 83.71±6.10 points. Six patients experienced negligible side effects. After VR training, I-ADL scores improved significantly (P<0.05). Wordlist delayed recall (p=0.023) and Trail making test-B (TMT-B) (p=0.042) showed a statistically significant improvement.Conclusion: The fully-immersive VR I-ADL training was feasible for patients with MCI and provided them with a high level of satisfaction and immersion.This program can help improve patients’ ADL, cognition, and mood. These findings suggest that VR I-ADL training programs can be used as a treatment tool for patients with MCI.

Purpose This study aimed to identify predictors of the occurrence and severity of neurological symptoms in patients with metastatic spinal tumor who still had no neurological symptoms. Methods We retrospectively examined patients with metastatic spinal tumor (regardless of tumor type) who visited the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine between 2017 and 2021. Using the patients’ magnetic resonance imaging and clinical data, we investigated whether epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) scale, spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS), and pain character were related to the occurrence and severity of neurological symptoms within 1 year. Results Of the 70 included patients, 40 showed neurological symptoms, and 30 did not. Multivariable analysis showed that ESCC (2 or 3) (P = 0.002), SINS (P = 0.007), and radiating pain (P = 0.015) were associated with neurological complications. None of the factors was associated with neurological symptom severity. Notably, neurological symptoms progressed rapidly in patients with high ESCC (P = 0.003). Conclusion ESCC, SINS, and radiating pain were related to the occurrence of neurological symptoms, but not to severity. Only ESCC was associated with the rapid progression of neurological symptoms. This retrospective study provides useful insights in predicting a patient's functional prognosis and determining management using radiology and clinical data.