Improving Navigation Performance in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Immersive Virtual Reality Training
Maryam Mehrinejad Khotbehsara

Date and Time

Friday, November 13, 2026, 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Theme / Track

Ageing well, longevity and social context

Presentation Format

Concurrent

Spatial navigation impairments are an early and disabling feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), contributing to disorientation, loss of independence, and increased caregiver burden. Developing innovative, non-pharmacological interventions to address these deficits is a key priority in ageing research. This study investigates the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive training program in improving spatial wayfinding abilities among older adults with early-to-moderate AD. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design was conducted with ten community-dwelling older adults (mean age ≈ 68 years). Participants completed baseline navigation tasks in immersive VR environments, followed by a structured seven-session training program over eight weeks. The intervention incorporated adaptive difficulty, landmark-based navigation, and tasks engaging both egocentric and allocentric spatial strategies. Outcomes included task completion time and path deviation (accuracy). Results showed significant improvements in both navigation speed and accuracy in complex environments (p < 0.01), with additional gains in processing speed in moderately difficult tasks (p < 0.01). No significant changes were observed in simple tasks, likely due to ceiling effects. A moderate correlation (r = 0.56) between speed and accuracy improvements suggests variability in individual navigation strategies. These findings demonstrate that VR-based training can enhance wayfinding performance in people with AD, particularly under higher cognitive demands. The study highlights the potential of immersive technologies as scalable, person-centred interventions supporting independence and quality of life in ageing populations.

Keywords

Dementia, Disease, Quality improvement, Technology, Wellness / Well Being

Authors

Professor Jeffrey Soar, University of Southern Queensland
Dr Sachithra Lokuge, University of Southern Queensland