A new article from The Guardian highlights the multitude of uses for the emerging VR technology by talking about its ability to pinpoint people who may later develop Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists now believe that the tech can be used to test people’s navigational skills, with those who do worse being at a higher risk of succumbing to Alzheimer’s later in life.Researchers hope this will help develop long-term treatments to halt or slow the condition, since the tech can help identify risks far earlier than possible at present.
It works by immersing patients in a simulated environment and having them navigate their way out. Around 300 people, aged 40-60, will be brought in for the study, some who have a gene which puts them at risk of Alzheimer’s and some with a family history of the disease.Check out the full article here.