Functional Living Skills in Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Degenerative or Non-Degenerative Conditions: Effectiveness of a Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Training

A comprehensive overview of post-stroke depression treatment options

Nearly one-third of all stroke patients develop depression at any time after a stroke, and its presence is associated with unfavorable outcomes. This narrative review aims to provide a synopsis of possible pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities for post-stroke depression (PSD). Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating the symptoms of this clinical condition. The treatment of PSD has been recently enhanced by innovative approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, virtual reality, telehealth, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and non-conventional therapies, which might improve depression treatment in stroke survivors. Future high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Impact of AI-Powered Solutions in Rehabilitation Process: Recent Improvements and Future Trends

Rehabilitation is an important and necessary part of local and global healthcare services along with treatment and palliative care, prevention of disease, and promotion of good health. The rehabilitation process helps older and young adults even children to become as independent as possible in activities of daily life and enables participation in useful living activities, recreation, work, and education. The technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved significantly in recent years. Many activities related to rehabilitation have been getting benefits from using AI techniques. The objective of this review study is to explore the advantages of AI for rehabilitation and how AI is impacting the rehabilitation process. This study aims at the most critical aspects of the rehabilitation process that could potentially take advantage of AI techniques including personalized rehabilitation apps, rehabilitation through assistance, rehabilitation for neurological disorders, rehabilitation for developmental disorders, virtual reality rehabilitation, rehabilitation of neurodegenerative diseases and Telerehabilitation of Cardiovascular. We presented a survey on the newest empirical studies available in the literature including the AI-based technology helpful in the Rehabilitation process. The novelty feature included but was not limited to an overview of the technological solutions useful in rehabilitation. Seven different categories were identified. Illustrative examples of practical applications were detailed. Implications of the findings for both research and practice were critically discussed. Most of the AI applications in these rehabilitation types are in their infancy and continue to grow while exploring new opportunities. Therefore, we investigate the role of AI technology in rehabilitation processes. In addition, we do statistical analysis of the selected studies to highlight the significance of this review work. In the end, we also present a discussion on some challenges, and future research directions.

Effects of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality-based rehabilitation training on cognition, motor function, and daily functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation training in improving cognition, motor function, and daily functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review of published literature was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.

METHODS

The search period was from inception to 7 October 2023. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of VR-based rehabilitation training in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia versus control subjects. Methodologic quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and outcomes were calculated as the standard mean difference between participant groups with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

A total of 21 randomized controlled trials with 1138 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that VR-based rehabilitation training had significant effects on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (SMD: 0.50; 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.95; P = 0.030), Trail-making test A (SMD: -0.38; 95%CI: -0.61 to -0.14; P = 0.002), and Berg Balance Scale scores (SMD: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.13 to 1.45; P = 0.020). A subgroup analysis revealed that the type of VR, and duration and frequency of interventions had statistically significant effects on cognition and motor function.

CONCLUSION

VR-based rehabilitation training is a beneficial nonpharmacologic approach for managing mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Immersive VR-based training had greater effects on cognition and motor function than non-immersive VR-based training, but non-immersive VR-based training was more convenient for patients with limitations imposed by their disease. Also, an intervention lasting 5-8 weeks and for >30 min at a frequency of ≥3 times/week achieved the best results. It indicated that a longer intervention cycle may not achieve the best intervention effect and training duration and schedule should be carefully considered when managing patients.

Virtual Reality for the Rehabilitation of Acquired Cognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review

This review article explores the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with neurological conditions, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. The introduction highlights the challenges posed by cognitive impairments and the limitations of traditional rehabilitation methods. VR is presented as a transformative tool that immerses individuals in interactive environments, offering promising opportunities for enhancing cognitive functions and improving quality of life. This article covers the foundational principles of VR, its applications across different clinical conditions and cognitive domains, and evaluates empirical evidence supporting its efficacy. It also discusses the advantages, limitations, challenges, and ethical considerations in the use of VR for cognitive rehabilitation. This review concludes by exploring future developments, including advancements in VR technology, the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), and the importance of standardized assessment tools for the objective evaluation of rehabilitation outcomes.