Limb apraxia in individuals with multiple sclerosis: Is there a role of semi-immersive virtual reality in treating the Cinderella of neuropsychology?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Limb apraxia is an acquired cognitive-motor disorder characterized by spatial and temporal disorganization of limb movements, negatively affecting the quality of life of patients, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although recent studies have shown the potential role of VR in increasing cognitive and motor functions, only a few studies have been carried out on the rehabilitation of upper limb apraxia. Hence, our study aims to evaluate the potential efficacy of VR training to improve upper limb ideomotor apraxia in patients with MS.

METHODS:

One hundred and six patients, affected by secondary progressive MS, who attended our Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Service from March 2019 to February 2020, were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into two groups: the control group (CG: 53 patients) performed traditional therapy whereas the experimental group (EG:53 patients) received training using semi-immersive VR. All patients underwent the same amount of cognitive training, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. They were submitted to a specific neuropsychological assessment before (T0) and after the rehabilitation treatment (T1).

RESULTS:

The VR training led to a significant improvement in global cognitive functions, with regard to constructive and ideomotor apraxia. On the contrary, the CG achieved significant improvements only in ideomotor apraxia. Moreover, only in the EG, we observed an improvement in the mood at the end of training.

CONCLUSION:

The present study demonstrates that VR rehabilitation can be an effective tool for the treatment of apraxia, which is a neuropsychological problem often underestimated in MS patients. Further studies with long-term follow-up periods are needed to confirm the effect of this promising approach.

• Authors: Maria Grazia Maggio, Maria Chiara Stagnitti, Erika Rizzo, Adriana Andaloro, Alfredo Manuli, Antongiulio Bruschetta, Antonino Naro, Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
• Journal: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders (Mult Scler Relat Disord) Vol. 69 Pg. 104405 (Jan 2023) ISSN: 2211-0356 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 36417812 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Apraxia, Ideomotor (rehabilitation)
• Neuropsychology
• Quality of Life
• Recovery of Function
• Virtual Reality
• Neurological Rehabilitation (methods)
• Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive (complications, rehabilitation)