Using Computer Games as a Strategy for Maintaining the Cognitive Capacity of the Elderly

Brasil, L. M.; Santos, L. I. B.; Calixto, Marcos Ferreira; Silva, J. P. L da; Peron, G. C.; Meneses, Kátia Vanessa Pinto de; Bombonato, F.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-29305-4_537

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…A budding field of research is the use of computer games for people with dementia [ 5 - 9 ]. With the global rise of people with dementia (PwD) [ 10 ] and the huge economic cost of their care, there is an increasing desire to maintain PwD at home and not institutions, for as long as possible [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Serious Computer Games for People With Moderate and Advanced Dementia: Interdisciplinary Theory-Driven Pilot Study

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe field of serious games for people with dementia (PwD) is mostly driven by game-design principals typically applied to games created by and for younger individuals. Little has been done developing serious games to help PwD maintain cognition and to support functionality.ObjectivesWe aimed to create a theory-based serious game for PwD, with input from a multi-disciplinary team familiar with aging, dementia, and gaming theory, as well as direct input from end users (the iterative process). Targeting enhanced self-efficacy in daily activities, the goal was to generate a game that is acceptable, accessible and engaging for PwD.MethodsThe theory-driven game development was based on the following learning theories: learning in context, errorless learning, building on capacities, and acknowledging biological changes—all with the aim to boost self-efficacy. The iterative participatory process was used for game screen development with input of 34 PwD and 14 healthy community dwelling older adults, aged over 65 years. Development of game screens was informed by the bio-psychological aging related disabilities (ie, motor, visual, and perception) as well as remaining neuropsychological capacities (ie, implicit memory) of PwD. At the conclusion of the iterative development process, a prototype game with 39 screens was used for a pilot study with 24 PwD and 14 healthy community dwelling older adults. The game was played twice weekly for 10 weeks.ResultsQuantitative analysis showed that the average speed of successful screen completion was significantly longer for PwD compared with healthy older adults. Both PwD and controls showed an equivalent linear increase in the speed for task completion with practice by the third session (P<.02). Most important, the rate of improved processing speed with practice was not statistically different between PwD and controls. This may imply that some form of learning occurred for PwD at a nonsignificantly different rate than for controls. Qualitative results indicate that PwD found the game engaging and fun. Healthy older adults found the game too easy. Increase in self-reported self-efficacy was documented with PwD only.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that PwD’s speed improved with practice at the same rate as healthy older adults. This implies that when tasks are designed to match PwD’s abilities, learning ensues. In addition, this pilot study of a serious game, designed for PwD, was accessible, acceptable, and enjoyable for end users. Games designed based on learning theories and input of end users and a multi-disciplinary team familiar with dementia and aging may have the potential of maintaining capacity and improving functionality of PwD. A larger longer study is needed to confirm our findings and evaluate the use of these games in assessing cognitive status and functionality.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Serious Computer Games for People With Moderate and Advanced Dementia: Interdisciplinary Theory-Driven Pilot Study

et al. 2017

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Virtual reality games for cognitive rehabilitation of older adults: a review of adaptive games, domains and techniques

Guzmán,

Rengifo,

Guzmán

et al. 2024

Virtual Reality

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In recent decades, the senior adults population worldwide has increased, as well as the medical conditions related to aging, such as cognitive decline. Virtual reality (VR) games are a valuable addition to conventional cognitive rehabilitation as they increase engagement to the therapy through customization, socialization, immersion, and feedback. This review, performed according to PRISMA protocol, addresses the following questions: How VR games have been used for cognitive rehabilitation?, What cognitive domains have been addressed by VR games and in which populations have these games been used?, Which features have been considered to improve engagement in VR games for cognitive rehabilitation?, How is the difficulty adjustment of exercises carried out in VR games for cognitive rehabilitation?. We found 25 scientific works related to these questions, 92% of them treating one cognitive domain at a time, despite the fact that the related literature recognizes the value of training multiple domains simultaneously. Our review indicates that, despite the existence of serious VR games for working memory training, such as those described in Flak et al. (Front Psychol 10:807, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00807), to our knowledge, there are no applications that simultaneously address multiple cognitive domains and incorporate dynamic difficulty adjustment, which are important to ensure ecological validity of therapy and therapy adherence, respectively. In addition, we found that games themselves could be used to monitor the user’s progression. It is also important to determine the impact of multiplayer interactions in the game, test difficulty adjustment approaches that use physiological variables, and define difficulty-skill relationships aligned with the user’s preferences. This paper concludes that the main barriers to implement dynamic difficulty adjustment in VR games for cognitive rehabilitation are: (i) the absence of metrics to estimate when the game offers to the players a challenge adapted their skills, and (ii) the lack of a conceptual framework that integrates relevant theories such as state of flow, cognitive load, cognitive rehabilitation, and feedback systems.

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Serious Games for Cognitive Rehabilitation in Older Adults: A Conceptual Framework

Guzmán,

Rengifo,

García-Cena

2024

MTI

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This paper presents a conceptual framework for the development of serious games aimed at cognitive rehabilitation in older adults. Following Jabareen’s methodology, a literature review was conducted to identify concepts and theories that are relevant in this field. The resulting framework comprises the use of virtual reality, integration of physical activity, incorporation of social interaction features, adaptability of difficulty levels, and customization of game content. The interconnections between these concepts and underlying cognitive theories, such as the cognitive reserve hypothesis and the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition, are highlighted. As we are in the early stages of our research, our goal is to introduce and test novel interpretations of current knowledge within this conceptual framework. Additionally, the practical implications of the conceptual framework are discussed, including its strengths and limitations, as well as its relevance for future research and clinical practice in the field of cognitive rehabilitation. It is hoped that this framework will provide a guide for the design and implementation of effective interventions to improve cognitive health and well-being in the older adult population.

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Using Computer Games as a Strategy for Maintaining the Cognitive Capacity of the Elderly

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Designing Serious Computer Games for People With Moderate and Advanced Dementia: Interdisciplinary Theory-Driven Pilot Study

Designing Serious Computer Games for People With Moderate and Advanced Dementia: Interdisciplinary Theory-Driven Pilot Study

Virtual reality games for cognitive rehabilitation of older adults: a review of adaptive games, domains and techniques

Serious Games for Cognitive Rehabilitation in Older Adults: A Conceptual Framework

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