| Poster | Poster Session 03 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular
Final Abstract #80
The Influence of Non-Cognitive Factors on Daily Engagement and Outcome of Virtual Reality Training in Dementia: Two Case Reports
Molly Tassoni, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Sophia Holmqvist, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Moira McKniff, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Emma Pinsky, Yeshiva University, New York, United States
Stephanie Simone, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Mijail Serruya, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, United States
Takehiko Yamaguchi, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
Tania Giovannetti, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Category: Cognitive Intervention/Rehabilitation
Keyword 1: cognitive rehabilitation
Objective:
Non-cognitive factors that contribute to increased engagement in behavioral treatment are important to consider to ensure maximum benefit of the treatment, but have been minimally studied in the dementia population. The purpose of the current case study is to characterize the role of non-cognitive factors, such as mood and personality traits (e.g., grit and motivation), on performance of repeated virtual reality training for two participants with dementia.
Participants and Methods:
Two participants with dementia (CS: age 70, 14 years of education; EM: age 93, 18 years of education) completed a neuropsychological assessment (scored using age, education, and IQ-adjusted norms), questionnaires assessing non-cognitive factors (e.g., mood [GAI, GDS], grit [Grit-S], desire to change behavior for health [URICA]), and pre-and post-training testing on the Naturalistic Action Task (NAT; a validated performance-based of everyday function including a Breakfast and Lunch task). Each participant repeatedly trained on the Virtual Kitchen (VK), either the Breakfast (CS) or Lunch (EM) tasks, for 30 minutes (or 10 total repetitions) per day over 5 days.
Results:
Results suggest that both CS and EM exhibited similar cognitive profiles, with impairment in processing speed, executive functioning, and memory (as determined by T<40 on two measures per domain). However, these participants demonstrated differing ability to engage in the day-to-day training. CS was able to complete more trials per day than was EM (CS: 5, 7, 6, 10, 9; EM: 3, 4, 3, 5, 4), engage in fewer screen interactions to complete each trial, and spent more time off screen than did EM. When characterizing non-cognitive factors that could account for this difference in training engagement and performance, CS and EM had similarly low depression (both = 2) and anxiety (CS= 0, EM=1) scores, but CS scored higher on grit (CS=3.875; EM=2.375) and the URICA (CS=7; EM=0.67). Despite varying performance on day-to-day interaction with the training, both participants similarly benefitted from the training upon post-training assessment, demonstrating positive change scores in accomplishment steps from pre- to post-training (EM = +27.69; CS =+ 6.06).
Conclusions:
Both participants exhibited similar cognitive profiles, therefore, cognition alone does not explain different engagement in virtual reality training in two participants with dementia. Grit and motivation to change behavior appears to influence day-to-day training performance, with higher grit and motivation associated with more training completion and fewer and more deliberate interactions. Therefore, when designing training studies, it is important to consider non-cognitive factors for day-to-day feasibility and engagement. Greater engagement did not affect training outcomes in this study, though a more thorough investigation is needed with a variety of interventions.
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