## 4 Discussion  
Here, we present a proof-of-concept study on the potential benefits of immersive VR-based interventions for individuals with different stages of cognitive decline, from absent to severe (including individuals with a clinical profile compatible with MCI or dementia). The results suggest that combining immersive virtual environments with emotionally evocative music can promote positive mood changes, trigger autobiographical memories, and offer a calming and engaging experience for most participants. Statistically, mood significantly improved over the course of the intervention, with a clear reduction in negative affect from the pre- to mid- and post-video assessments. Specifically, participants reported lower mood disturbance scores after the VR experience, suggesting a progressive improvement in emotional state. Interestingly, this positive effect was observed regardless of cognitive status, although participants with lower MoCA scores (indicating greater impairment) exhibited even lower VAS scores overall--indicating a stronger emotional benefit in this subgroup. Previous studies have highlighted the potential of VR therapies in MCI and early AD for improving cognitive and physical functions [38]. Additionally, the integration of music therapy within virtual environments has shown promise in alleviating the psychological and cognitive symptoms of AD [39; 40]. Our findings build upon previous research by integrating VR and music into a multi-sensory therapeutic intervention. This novel, multimodal approach shows promise in enhancing both emotional and cognitive outcomes. Notably, several participants with moderate cognitive impairment, as indicated by lower MoCA scores, were able to engage meaningfully with the experience. Many of them recalled emotionally salient autobiographical memories, often from childhood or adolescence, despite occasional feelings of anxiety or sadness. Even the participant with severe Alzheimer's disease showed signs of emotional involvement--such as singing along during the VR session--although they experienced challenges in verbal communication and required an early termination of the session due to the weight of the headset. These observations highlight the potential of immersive environments to foster emotional and cognitive engagement, even in individuals at more advanced stages of neurodegeneration [41]. Personalized and culturally relevant stimuli played a central role in eliciting these responses, emphasizing the importance of tailoring interventions to individual needs. Moreover, the aesthetically pleasing design of the VR scenarios contributed significantly to the intervention's overall appeal and effectiveness, enhancing user satisfaction and emotional resonance [42]. While minor side effects such as mental fatigue or discomfort were noted, they underscore the necessity of optimizing the device design and content customization to improve usability and the participants' experience. Overall, our findings underline the importance of further research to advance VR-based interventions. Future studies should investigate how integrating culturally sensitive and individually tailored content can amplify the therapeutic benefits of VR. Additionally, exploring long-term impacts, scalability, and the integration of VR with other therapeutic modalities could pave the way for more robust applications in diverse clinical contexts. The current study has several limitations. Firstly, the characteristics of the sample (elderly individuals with mild to moderate cognitive decline, with only one diagnosed AD patient) limit the generalizability of the findings to the broader AD population. Secondly, the short-term nature of the intervention precludes conclusions about its long-term effects on mood, cognition, or quality of life. Moreover, the lack of a control group makes it difficult to determine whether the observed effects can be attributed solely to the VR intervention.