Everyone who's seen loved ones suffer from dementia knows that it can be a horrible illness. The loss of both memory and personality combined with depression, confusion, and mood swings is heartbreaking to witness, and most likely worse to experience first hand. Can this suffering be eased in any way?
Well, many care facilities try different ways of soothing patients, creating stable environments designed not to cause stress, introducing animals such as dogs for petting, or singing old songs. Now Alex Smale at TribeMix, a social media marketing company, might have found a new way to give the patients a new quality of life, and it's virtual reality.
As seen in this video, the patients visit the beach via VR, and the response is great. According to Smale (via Games Industry) the effect lasts long after the headset is removed, and he calls the video "just the tip of the iceberg".
Since the fight against dementia is still an ongoing battle, this is mostly treating the symptoms. Still, it's heartwarming to see how these patients react to the "treatment". What other medical uses could VR hold?