BACKGROUND To delay the decline in cognition and reduce the incidence of dementia, the precise detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is necessary. The application of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in this detection can overcome the shortage of traditional paper-and-pencil tests. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to summarize the research progress of the detection of MCI using VR. METHODS Eight databases from their inception to November 19, 2019, were systematically searched for studies applying VR in the detection of MCI. A thematic analysis was conducted according to the specific detection purpose and the main corresponding cognitive domains assessed were summarized; characteristics of the VR applications were also summarized. RESULTS Twenty-eight studies were finally included. The detection purposes included discrimination between healthy controls and those with MCI, discrimination between aMCI subtypes, detection of MCI patients at risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and discrimination between MCI and AD. VR tasks assessing spatial memory were applicable for all detection purposes, and the assessment of combinations of memory and executive function seemed more sensitive. Executive function and intentional episodic memory could be assessed to discriminate among healthy controls, individuals with MCI and those with AD. Incidental episodic memory was effective in detecting MCI with hippocampal atrophy. The most common characteristics of the VR applications were the use of semi-immersion, joysticks or gamepad interactions and simple, one-time behavioral assessments. CONCLUSION VR applications are promising in the detection of MCI, but further research is needed for clinical use.

中文翻译：

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基于虚拟现实的轻度认知障碍的检测：范围回顾。

背景技术为了延迟认知能力的下降并减少痴呆症的发生，必须对轻度认知障碍（MCI）进行精确检测。虚拟现实（VR）技术在这种检测中的应用可以克服传统的纸笔测试的不足。目的本综述旨在总结利用VR技术检测MCI的研究进展。方法系统地搜索了从成立到2019年11月19日的八个数据库，以研究将VR应用于MCI检测的研究。根据特定的检测目的进行了主题分析，并总结了评估的主要对应认知领域；还总结了VR应用程序的特征。结果最终纳入了28项研究。检测目的包括区分健康对照者和MCI患者，aMCI亚型，检测患有阿尔茨海默氏病（AD）风险的MCI患者，以及区分MCI和AD。评估空间记忆的VR任务适用于所有检测目的，记忆和执行功能组合的评估似乎更为敏感。可以评估执行功能和意向性情景记忆，以区分健康对照，MCI患者和AD患者。偶发性情景记忆可有效检测MCI伴海马萎缩。VR应用程序最常见的特征是使用半浸入式，操纵杆或游戏手柄交互以及简单的一次性行为评估。