Virtual Reality Treadmill Training for Aging (V-TARGET Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen ByXiangli Gu

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Age-associated motor and cognitive deficits increase the risk of falls, a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammatory mediators lead to impaired functional capacity and frailty in the elderly and suggests that immune system mediated inflammation in the brain play an important role in cognitive decline. Substantial literature has also demonstrated that age-targeted physical activity training are promising strategies for promoting the motor-cognitive process across the adult lifespan. Recently, the virtual reality (VR) application has been implemented in the neuropsychological rehabilitation settings suggesting that the VR-infused daily living activities may benefit the transfer of intervention outcomes and to promote autonomy in function of daily living such as cooking or grocery shopping. However, it remains unclear the effect of the VR-based exercise intervention (motor-cognitive impact) on older adults' cognitive function and fall prevention. The literature suggests that the similarity of VR exercises with real life activities may improve generalizability by extending the transfer of gains of training to everyday living and promote some aspects of quality of life in older adults. It is also unclear to what extent these aging-associated motor- cognitive changes may be affected by VR rehab games and whether systemic- and neuro-inflammation is ameliorated by this novel intervention in older adults. This purpose of this study is to design and implement a Virtual Reality-Infused Treadmill Training on Aging-Related Outcomes (V-TARGET) intervention, focusing on adults (aged up to 75 years old). The study will compare the effects of V-TARGET intervention (self-paced treadmill-simulator exercise with VR rehab games) against a control group on motor-cognitive function, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), circulating inflammatory markers and cerebral/peripheral blood flow through this 5-week intervention (2 times/week, 30-minutes/session, 10 sessions total).

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults up to 75 years old who are interested in a study on how virtual reality-infused treadmill training can affect aging-related outcomes like motor-cognitive function and quality of life. Participants should be able to commit to a 5-week program with sessions twice a week.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 75 years old or younger.

I can walk on my own without needing help from devices.

Exclusion Criteria

I have joint problems that stop me from moving freely.

I have a current injury to my bones or joints.

I do not have heart problems that stop me from joining or being active.

I do not have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, or similar conditions.

I use a wheelchair.

Participant Groups

The V-TARGET intervention, which combines self-paced treadmill exercises with VR rehab games, is being tested against regular activities (control group) for its impact on physical and cognitive functions, overall well-being, inflammation levels in the body, and blood flow in the brain and body.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: V-TARGET intervention groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

All participants in the V-TARGET intervention group will exercise on the Virtuix Omni 360-degree self-paced, non-powered treadmill-simulator in the lab for 5-weeks (2 days/week, 30 minutes/session, 10 sessions total. The treadmill-simulator is a first-of-its-kind motion platform on which an individual can walk and run at a self-paced speed in 360 degrees (i.e., forwards, sideways and backwards) without risk of falling or colliding with other people. The V-TARGET intervention group will self-pace their locomotor action (walking/running) on the Omni treadmill-simulator while they wear the Pico Neo 2 head-mounted display (HMD) headset and use the Neuro Rehab VR XR Therapy system to experience daily activity exercises/games, including Retail Therapy, Explore (gait training), Lunchtime Adventure, and Nature Walk.

Group II: The waitlist control groupActive Control1 Intervention

The control group will not do any VR exercise but will only complete the pre-post and 1-month follow-up assessment upon signing up the study.