2026-10-10T15:53:36Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/32640417 2026-10-01T16:31:23Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

Co-designing immersive virtual reality environments with people with dementia Leonid Kuzmenko (24169251) PUREID: 617367146 As global dementia cases increase, reaching a projected 140 million people affected by 2050, the importance of research in this area becomes evident. In this thesis, I describe in detail my project focused on the interactive and collaborative development of virtual reality (VR) environments involving people with dementia (PWD), their carers, and dementia care specialists. The aim of the project was to develop a recreational device that could be potentially used by PWD on their own for enjoyment. The conducted research explored the development of immersive virtual environments based on the memories of PWD, incorporating interviews and feedback to recreate, as closely as possible, meaningful places from their past along with the music they loved. In my study, the integration of co-design principles, music therapy, and VR technology was explored to enhance the mood of two participants with dementia. This approach centred around the active involvement of the participants in the design process, ensuring that the VR environments were tailored to their personal preferences. The receptive approach from music therapy was a major element in this study; each song was selected from the PWD’s personal playlists and incorporated into the VR scenarios to evoke positive memories and emotions, a technique known for its therapeutic benefits in dementia care. The study's methodology highlighted the potential of combining visual and aural elements in a supportive, interactive framework, offering insights into innovative approaches that could potentially enhance the quality of life of PWD. The study demonstrated that tailored VR environments can stimulate socialisation, however a further clinical study with a larger participant pool is needed to assess potential therapeutic benefits, which was beyond the scope of the PhD degree. 2026-10-01T16:31:23Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32640417.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Co-designing_immersive_virtual_reality_environments_with_people_with_dementia/32640417 All Rights Reserved