Mind, Body, and Connection: An Immersive VR Program for Holistic Well-Being in Parkinson?s Patients and Caregivers (MBC-VR)

Mind, Body, and Connection (MBC-VR) is a community-based, dyadic immersive virtual reality (VR) program designed to promote holistic health and well-being among people living with Parkinson?s disease (PD) and their primary family caregivers. Grounded in evidence-informed exercise and psychosocial frameworks, MBC-VR integrates physical activity, cognitive engagement, stress reduction, and social connection within an accessible VR environment. By engaging individuals with PD and caregivers together, the program recognizes the interconnected nature of physical health, mental health, and caregiving burden while fostering shared experiences that support dyadic coping and mutual support. MBC-VR will serve PD patient?caregiver dyads using Oculus VR headsets, with up to 10 dyads per cycle. The program will be delivered across three rolling 6-week cycles during the grant period, allowing flexible enrollment and sustained community reach. Sessions will be offered three days per week, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes, consistent with Parkinson?s Foundation Exercise Guidelines for safe, moderate-intensity physical activity.

VIVO