DUET: a home VR-based program to support people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers
Official title: VRSingTogether: Digital therapeutic virtual reality tool to mitigate the effects ofAlzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimer's-Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD)
Funded at Ralphvr INC. · NIH-11408862 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital VR program called DUET helps people with Alzheimer's-related dementias and their caregivers stay mentally engaged and connected at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralphvr INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,050,008 |
| NIH project number | 2R44AG079739-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408862 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older living with MCI or ADRD and their cohabitating family caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to home VR equipment or those with advanced dementia may not benefit or may require additional supports.
What this research studies
This grant funds development of a home-based VR platform that delivers music-based therapy, cognitive activities, and shared gamified tasks for people with MCI or ADRD and their caregivers. The approach focuses on dyadic engagement to support memory, communication, mood, and independence while reducing caregiver stress. It will refine the platform, test usability, and evaluate benefits in real-world home settings with older adults and their family caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve cognitive engagement and reduce caregiver burden at home.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nonpharmacologic, multidomain approaches show promise; VR-based, dyadic interventions are an emerging area with encouraging signals.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralphvr INC.
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoagland, Richard — Ralphvr INC.
- Study coordinator: Hoagland, Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes linked to chemicals in the body
This NIH grant supports a patient-centered effort to map how environmental exposures and body chemistry relate to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Understanding how everyday exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
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How environment, gut health, and metabolism affect Alzheimer’s disease
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Understanding how chemical exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
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Understanding how brain hyperexcitability and sex differences affect Alzheimer’s disease
This grant tests whether brain hyperexcitability linked to a genetic risk (APOE4) and sex differences contribute to memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease, using computer simulations and mouse data to guide potential human treatments.
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Virtual Reality Cognitive Therapy for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer’s
A home-use virtual reality program helps people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease practice everyday skills to use in real life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.