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KMID : 1023920170190010035
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Journal of the Korean Academy of Kinesiology
2017 Volume.19 No. 1 p.35 ~ p.44
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Effects of a Virtual Reality Exercise Program(Wii) on Cognitive Function of Elderly People with Alzheimer Dementia
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Lee Geun-Ho
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Abstract
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PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week virtual reality exercise program designed around the Nintendo Wii(Wii), in improving Alzheimer’s dementia patients’ memories.
METHODS: 30 Alzheimer dementia patients were randomly assigned in to the experimental group(n=15) and control group(n=15). All subjects performed a routine cognitive therapy and, besides, experimental group performed three 40-minute Wii-exercise intervention sessions per week, for 12 weeks. Before and after the Wii intervention, subjects’ cognitive functions were evaluated using the Cognitive Assessment Reference Diagnosis System (CARDS) and Mini-Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K) test. Statistical significance was tested within and between each group before and after treatment by Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test.
RESULTS: Among the CARDS scores of the subjects who received Wii-exercise, the scores of the delayed 10-word list, delayed 10-object list, recognition 10-object, and recent memory significantly increased after intervention compared to those before intervention(p<.01). In addition, among the MMSE-K items, the orientation, registration, and recall showed significant increases in the experimental group(p<.05). The control group saw no statistically significant change. There was a statistically significant CARDS and MMSE-K score differences after intervention between the groups(p<.05). 76.9% of experimental group responded positively when asked if they would like to continue using the Wii-game in the future.
CONCLUSIONS: These suggest that a virtual reality exercise program using the Wii-game, is effective in delaying memory deterioration and improving cognitive function of elderly people with Alzheimer dementia.
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KEYWORD
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dementia, virtual reality exposure therapy, nintendo-wii, cognitive function
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