The Evidence Behind The Experience
Peer-reviewed research and registered clinical trials in VR therapy for aged care and dementia
—— NeuronsVR Clinical Framework
Behavioural & Psychological Symptoms of Dementia:
A Seven-Tiered Model of Delivery
NeuronsVR's framework outlines the spectrum of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, ranging from baseline wellbeing at Tier 1 through to Tier 7 extreme care.
Each tier represents a distinct level of support, giving care teams a structured model to identify client needs and deliver appropriate non-pharmacological care.
—— Dementia Facts · Australia (2024)
The Numbers Behind The Need
DEMENTIA IN AUSTRALIA · 2024
425,000
Australians living with dementia
AGED CARE RESIDENTS
54%
of permanent residential aged care residents have dementia
UNPAID CARER BURDEN
60+ hrs
Average weekly care by unpaid carers of people with dementia
Each tile = 1 hour per week · 60 hrs total
—— Aged Care Quality Standards
Meeting Aged Care Quality Standards With NeuronsVR Therapy
How to Read The Evidence
Not all research carries the same weight, and understanding the difference helps you evaluate what the evidence actually supports.
Feasibility study
Tests whether a therapy is safe, practical, and acceptable to participants. It is not designed to prove effectiveness, but a successful feasibility study is a required step before a larger trial can proceed.
The ANZCTR-registered NeuronsVR trial is a pilot RCT.
Pilot RCT (Randomised Controlled Trial)
A small-scale trial that randomly assigns participants to either the therapy or a control condition. Pilot RCTs test whether a larger, definitive trial is worth running. They are not powered to prove efficacy on their own, but they provide stronger evidence than observational data.
The UTS/OPUS publication is a systematic review of information systems literature in dementia care, applying the NASSS framework.
Peer-reviewed systematic review
The highest form of evidence summary. Researchers apply a formal methodology (in this case, PRISMA) to identify, screen, and synthesise all published studies on a topic.
The UTS/OPUS publication is a systematic review of information systems literature in dementia care, applying the NASSS framework.
—— Published Research
Peer Reviewed and Published.
FACILITY TRIAL
NeuronsVR Trial Virtual Reality Dementia Specific
- 2024
- ACH Group Social Care Team
- Internal facility trial report — ACH Group Residential Care (not peer-reviewed)
Across 52 residents in 4 facilities over 6 weeks, staff observed improvements in mood, social engagement, and cognitive activity, with previously isolated residents participating in group sessions and family members reporting residents recalled VR experiences despite daily memory lapses.
CLINICAL TRIAL
NeuronsVR Virtual Reality Therapy for People with Dementia in Acute Hospital Settings
- Registered 2024 (ACTRN12624001473550)
- ACH Group Social Care Team
- Internal facility trial report - ACH Group Residential Care (not peer-reviewed)
A registered pilot RCT measuring the effect of NeuronsVR therapy on the dose and frequency of chemical restraint required for people experiencing BPSD in acute hospital settings; results pending publication.
CLINICAL TRIAL
A Pilot RCT of NeuronsVR therapy for BPSD in dementia
- Registered 2024 (ACTRN12624001473550)
- St George Hospital
- Publication: Internal facility trial report — ACH Group Residential Care (not peer-reviewed)
Registered as a pilot RCT to evaluate VR therapy as a non-pharmacological approach to managing agitation, anxiety, and behavioural distress in people with dementia admitted to acute hospital settings. Actively recruiting participants.
PEER-REVIEWED
NeuronsVR: Virtual reality therapy for people living with dementia during an acute hospital admission
- 2025
- Montgomery, A., Teus, J.K., Paulik, O., Smerdely, P., Barton, C. et al. — St George Hospital, NSW / University of Wollongong
- Geriatric Nursing, Vol. 66, Article 103708. DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2025.103708
In a convenience sample of 30 hospitalised people with dementia, 100% of participants completed the VR intervention and achieved a mean Engagement of a Person with Dementia Scale (EPWDS) score of 40.0 (SD 7.3), with the majority reporting they 'liked' or 'strongly liked' the experience, demonstrating feasibility and acceptability in an acute hospital setting.
NEWS STORY
NeuronsVR Therapy programs individual care plans with evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions.
- 2025
- Calvary Health Care, published on calvarycare.org.au
- Calvary Health Care News — "Virtual reality enriches lives"
Across multiple Calvary aged care homes, residents experienced improved emotional wellbeing, reminiscence, and cultural connection through NeuronsVR sessions, including a multilingual pilot at Calvary Springvale and a 95-year-old resident moved to tears at a virtual classical music concert at Calvary Flora McDonald.
PEER-REVIEWED
A Systematic Review of IS Literature in Dementia Care: An Application of the NASSS Framework
- Feng, Z., Kurian, J.C., Prasad, M., Biloria, N., Saravanakumar, P. — University of Technology Sydney (Computer Science, Architecture, Nursing & Midwifery)
- OPUS @ UTS — Open Publications of UTS Scholars. A Systematic Review of IS Literature in Dementia Care: An Application of the NASSS Framework
A PRISMA-methodology systematic review identified five key themes to guide future dementia care technology research, confirming VR as a clinically relevant intervention and highlighting interoperability, economic viability, and alignment with patient and caregiver needs as the primary implementation challenges.
—— Research Partners
Research Conducted With Australia's Leading Institutions.
Australian facilities and research institutions have trialled NeuronsVR in real care settings. Results have been registered with ANZCTR and published across indexed academic journals.