Dr Michelle Dickinson: Nanotechnologist on whether VR tech can help people living with dementia

Imagine walking through a peaceful forest, listening to birdsong, or watching the waves roll in on a sunny beach. Now imagine doing all of that without ever leaving your chair.  New research published in the American Journal of Health Behaviour took a group of older adults living with dementia and gave them this experience in a study exploring the benefits of virtual reality.  The study looked at how nature-themed virtual reality sessions could help improve emotional well-being and quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The research team worked with 11 residents at a long-term memory care facility, all diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.  Over five weeks, participants took part in two 20 to 30-minute VR sessions each week. Using a program called Nature Treks VR, they were transported to peaceful landscapes like forests, meadows, and oceans complete with animated animals and plants they could interact with.  While nature is known to have powerful calming and restorative effects, many people living with dementia face challenges getting outdoors. Limited mobility, safety concerns, and lack of access to green spaces can make it hard to enjoy the real thing. That’s where virtual reality came in offering a safe, indoor way to connect with the natural world.  After five weeks of virtual nature sessions, participants reported feeling more positive emotions like pleasure and alertness and fewer negative ones, such as sadness, anxiety, and anger. They also said their overall quality of life had improved.  And it wasn’t just the numbers that told the story. In interviews, both participants and their caregivers shared heart-warming feedback. Many spoke of how much they enjoyed exploring the virtual environments, how exciting it was to try something new, and how the experiences sparked fond memories from the past.  One key moment came when participants recalled special places from their childhoods, or family holidays by the sea showing that virtual nature didn’t just offer relaxation, but also helped trigger meaningful memories and emotional connections. The study offers a hopeful glimpse into how technology can be used in care settings not to replace real-world experiences, but to offer new ways to connect, explore, and improve quality of life when the real world isn’t always accessible. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.