Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41868429›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in aging neuroscience2026

A novel virtual reality-integrated multi-modal intervention for community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Yuanbao Sun, Zhuorong Zi, Songli Wang, Minghui Weng, Jin Peng, Linwan Liu, Jian Zhou, Nianjie Wang, Bo Liu, Kezhi Liu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Yuanbao Sun *School of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Zhuorong Zi *School of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Songli Wang *Department of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong, China.
Minghui WengDepartment of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong, China.
Jin PengDepartment of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong, China.
Linwan LiuSchool of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Jian ZhouSchool of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Nianjie WangSchool of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Bo LiuDepartment of Psychiatry, Zigong Mental Health Center, Zigong, China.
Kezhi LiuSchool of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Youguo TanSchool of Psychiatry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Emerging research suggests virtual reality (VR) techniques hold promise for mitigating cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that gut dysbiosis is a key factor associated with cognitive impairment. This study aims to determine whether a novel virtual reality-integrated multi-modal intervention can beneficially modulate the brain-gut axis in individuals with MCI. Methods: This study is a randomized single-blind controlled trial that will include 66 older adults with MCI from the community. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group or the waitlist group. The intervention group will complete 36 sessions (three sessions per week for 12 weeks) consisting of virtual reality cognitive training (VRCT), traditional cognitive training (TCT), and physical exercise (PE). The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period. The primary outcome is the change in a memory-weighted cognitive composite score. Exploratory outcomes: mechanistic changes along the brain-gut axis, including: (1) Changes in gut microbiota alpha/beta diversity and composition assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, (2) Changes in resting-state brain activity and functional connectivity assessed by fMRI. Outcome measures will be assessed at three or four time points: baseline, mid-intervention (Week 6), post-intervention (Week 12), and at a 12-week follow-up (Week 24). Expected outcomes: We hypothesize that, relative to the waitlist control, the intervention group will demonstrate concurrent improvements in cognitive performance and a shift in gut microbiota composition toward a more favorable profile, thereby providing preliminary evidence for modulation of the brain-gut axis. Clinical trial registration: [www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2400093397].

Indexed as

brain-gut axiscognitive traininggut microbiotamild cognitive impairmentphysical exercisevirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41868429
PMCPMC12999948

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.