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VR Training to Improve Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery

Key facts

Who runs it
Peking University Third Hospital
Where
China3 sites in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
240 people, planned
Started
1 Feb 2026
Expected to end
31 Dec 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Virtual reality cognitive function training
  • Virtual scene intervention
Record updated
27 January 2026

Who can take part

Age
60 years and older
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 13 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Age≥60
  • Preoperative MRI-confirmed cerebral small vessel disease
  • Scheduled to undergo non-cardiac, non-craniotomy procedures under general anesthesia
  • ASA physical status classification: I-III
  • No use of cognitive-enhancing medications within 3 months prior to surgery
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent

Who cannot take part

  • Contraindications to cranial MRI (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, metallic implants, etc.)
  • Severe visual or auditory impairment
  • Pre-existing neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or active delirium)
  • Inability to complete preoperative neuropsychological assessments (e.g., dementia, deaf-mutism, or communication barriers)
  • Use of sedatives, antidepressants, or history of psychoactive substance abuse/alcoholism
  • Intolerance to VR equipment during pre-training adaptation (e.g., dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or other subjective discomfort)
  • Severe hepatic or renal dysfunction

This trial has no sites in United States.

It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This clinical study aims to investigate whether virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive training can help improve postoperative cognitive function in elderly non-cardiac surgery patients with pre-existing cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). As the global aging population undergoes an increasing number of surgical procedures, perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) have emerged as a serious complication among surgical patients, potentially prolonging hospital stays and increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The study employs an innovative VR system that integrates eye-tracking cognitive assessment with interactive rehabilitation games to evaluate and train patients' cognitive function prior to non-cardiac and non-cranial surgeries. Conducted at Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University First Hospital, and Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, this research specifically targets patients undergoing general surgery, orthopedic surgery, and other non-cranial/non-cardiac procedures. It seeks to validate whether this technology-based intervention can effectively enhance postoperative cognitive function in this population while exploring its underlying mechanisms. The findings may offer a practical solution for protecting cognitive health in elderly patients during recovery from routine surgical procedures.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Preoperative Training GroupTreatment being tested

    Treatment: Virtual reality cognitive function training

  • Preoperative Non-Training GroupSham treatment, for comparison

    Treatment: Virtual scene intervention

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of VR Training to Improve Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery
Record updated
27 January 2026