Patients getting back their memories is a challenge.
Technology may be able to help patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia recover some of their memories, according to the Daily Mail in “Touching moment a virtual reality headset helps elderly people with dementia recall previous memories.”
A virtual reality therapy program has been created that lets patients virtually be at a scene.
A therapist asks a set of leading questions to help jog the patient’s memory. The article mentions that an elderly woman was shown a virtual reality beach scene and was then able to recall the time she visited a beach in Scotland as a child. It was a memory which had previously been lost to her.
There are twelve scenes in total, including a view of the Earth from the International Space Station.
The virtual reality program is not readily available to all patients but it is likely that more access will be available, as more research is compiled on the program.
Reference: Daily Mail (May 16, 2017) “Touching moment a virtual reality headset helps elderly people with dementia recall previous memories.”
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