Virtual reality-based reminiscence therapy for older adults to improve psychological well-being and cognition: A systematic review.

The review could not pool the data because the included studies were too varied, so the findings are descriptive. Many studies had small samples and only six studies had comparators, so it is hard to know whether VR reminiscence itself caused any change. The included studies used simple reminiscence, so this review does not show what VR-delivered life review or life review therapy would do. Only English-language studies were included. Sample sizes were small and VR-RT sessions were infrequent, so the findings may not apply widely. One included study was rated low quality.

The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that VR reminiscence improves mood or general cognition in older adults. The review found mixed results: four studies found no significant difference in cognitive function, and studies of depression and anxiety included both no change and reductions. Do not attribute any benefit to VR alone, because the intervention was VR combined with reminiscence, and only six studies had comparators, so the separate contribution of VR and reminiscence cannot be established.