The Right Steps: A Virtual Reality Application/Intervention to Improve Wayfinding in Mild Cognitive Impairment (RightSteps)

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACTRightSteps This Phase I SBIR application responds to PAThe Right StepsA Virtual Reality ApplicationIntervention to Improve Wayfinding in Mild Cognitive ImpairmentRightStepswill create a virtual reality clinical training environment to deliver virtual wayfinding scenarios and a companion mobile phone application for real world rehearsal to assist in targeting wayfinding skill building in patients with mild cognitive impairments to enhance functional independenceRightSteps applies technology as a creative but practical solution to target improvements in daily life experiences of individuals with cognitive disabilitySpecifically focusing on mild cognitive impairment early dementia patientRightSteps is aligned with NIA s research priority for thedevelopment of programs to support cognitive training to improve cognitive function in elderlyincludingnovelengaging computer based cognitive training programs based on empirically established approaches using cognitive training to target a specific neural system functional domainAs loss of functional independence defines the transition from MCI to dementiainterventions such as RightSteps have the potential to slow clinicaland potentially even neuropathologicalprogressionRightSteps is designed in a manner agnostic to mobility demandsand thus can be utilized by patients with both physical as well as non physical impairmentsThe team of Emory University researcher DrStringer and development company Virtually BetterIncwill develop a VR prototype to enhance route recall trainingleveraging empirically validated EON Mem mnemonic strategiesPatients will be able to train in use of wayfinding route recall strategies using virtual environment scenarios of the same clinical setting that approximates real world wayfinding and be able to practice at home using a companion mobile appBy closely approximating and enhancing the real clinical settingstrategy training may be more likely to generalize to patientseveryday environment to increase patient functional independenceIf successful in Phase Ithis project will lead directly to a Phase II clinical trial to test the efficacy of the RightSteps VR Program and App in preserving functional independence and improving wayfinding in individuals with MCI early dementiaEDThe aims of thismonth Phase I project include the development of the RightSteps prototype that will deliver virtual environments and scenarios for training and rehearsal of wayfinding clinical intervention with a supportive mobile application for home based rehearsal and skill buildingOur specific aims includeAimIterative development of the RightSteps prototype to deliver virtual wayfinding scenariosbased on an indoor path patients will traversefor the VR clinical training environment and a mobile phone based application for real world rehearsalAimAssess the usabilityacceptabilityand realismcompared to the actual indoor pathof RightSteps via a focus group composed of MCI ED patients and their caregivers using quantitative and qualitative measuresAimOptimization of the RightSteps prototype based on feedback from focus group and comparative assessment with the same focus group participants PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACTRightSteps The Right StepsA Virtual Reality ApplicationIntervention to Improve Wayfinding in Mild Cognitive ImpairmentRightStepswill create a virtual reality clinical training environment to deliver virtual wayfinding scenarios and a companion mobile phone application for real world rehearsal to assist in targeting wayfinding skill building in patients with mild cognitive impairments to enhance functional independence and potentially to slow clinical progressionThe team of Emory University researcher DrStringer and development company Virtually BetterIncwill develop a VR prototype to enhance route recall trainingleveraging empirically validated EON Mem mnemonic strategiesBy allowing patients to train in use of wayfinding route recall strategies using virtual environment scenarios of the clinical setting that approximates real world wayfinding and be able to practice at home using a companion mobile app increases the opportunity of generalization of clinical interventions to patientseveryday functional independence