Virtual reality frees the mind

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Being diagnosed with a progressive and incurable brain disease like dementia or Parkinson’s disease is life-changing. More than 50 per cent of sufferers experience anxiety and depression. And, as Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka of UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research explains, this impacts not just those with the condition, but also their families and society.

“Anxiety and depression in dementia and Parkinson’s disease are predominantly associated with lowering patients’ quality of life, high care giver burden, premature entry to residential aged care facilities and higher risk of mortality,” says the researcher.

Dr Dissanayaka and her team’s research is titled Virtual reality assisted psychological interventions to combat behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The study is trialling home-based biofeedback systems utilising smartphone apps and smart watches to increase the efficacy and effectiveness of psychological interventions for people with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. 

“The artificial environment, delivered through wireless mobile headsets, immerses the patient in their surroundings and mimics how they would feel in reality,” Dr Dissanayaka explains. “Living in Australia, it’s no surprise that the most popular environment is the beach. Because the program creates the image for the user, the patient doesn’t exert any mental energy and can more easily relax and enjoy the experience without having to go out of their home to leave home.

“This research aims to assist patients living in the community and in residential aged care facilities to meet the practical demands of dealing with depression and anxiety. It seeks to reduce the burden on our healthcare system and the aged care service sector, while achieving long term outcomes for patients.”

PhD candidate Rachel Brimelow says aged care residents who have cognitive impairment are embracing the virtual reality technology.

“Even though they may not be able to verbalise,they light up,” Rachel recounts. “They go from staring into space to being engaged. Seeing the difference is wonderful – they often don’t want to give up the virtual reality headset.”

The social and economic impacts of degenerative brain disease are substantial. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is the second highest cause of death in Australia, estimated to cost the nation some $14.6 billion per annum. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, after dementia, costing an estimated $9.9 billion annually. 

Dr Dissanayaka is an NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellow and a Lions Medical Research Foundation Fellow. She was also supported by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation grants. In 2018, Dr Dissanayaka was awarded a prestigious NARSAD Young Investigator international grant from the US-based Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation. 

This story is featured in the Winter 2018 edition of UQMedicine Magazine.  View the latest edition here. Or to listen, watch, or read more stories from UQ’s Faculty of Medicine visit our blog,  MayneStream.