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Korte JA, Weakley A, Donjuan Fernandez K, Joiner WM, Fan AP. Neural Underpinnings of Learning in Dementia Populations: A Review of Motor Learning Studies Combined with Neuroimaging. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:734-755. [PMID: 38285732 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The intent of this review article is to serve as an overview of current research regarding the neural characteristics of motor learning in Alzheimer disease (AD) as well as prodromal phases of AD: at-risk populations, and mild cognitive impairment. This review seeks to provide a cognitive framework to compare various motor tasks. We will highlight the neural characteristics related to cognitive domains that, through imaging, display functional or structural changes because of AD progression. In turn, this motivates the use of motor learning paradigms as possible screening techniques for AD and will build upon our current understanding of learning abilities in AD populations.
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Reinoso Medina L, Thrasher CA, Harburger LL. Evidence for age-related decline in spatial memory in a novel allocentric memory task. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38643487 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2024.2344866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Several studies report spatial memory decline in old age. However, few studies have examined whether old adults are specifically impaired in allocentric memory tasks (testing for object-to-object spatial location memory). Thus, the present study examined the effects of age on allocentric spatial memory using a novel landmark memory task. Young (18-25 years old) and old (65 years and older) participants watched 10 short videos that displayed 180-degree viewpoints of distinct real-world locations with landmark cues. After watching each video, participants saw a snapshot from the video and were asked whether a landmark cue previously viewed in the video was to the left or right of the snapshot view. Young adults outperformed old adults on the task. This age-related decline in spatial performance was similar for men and women. These findings support that spatial ability in an allocentric task is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina A Thrasher
- Department of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase, NY, USA
| | - Lauren L Harburger
- Department of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase, NY, USA
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3
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Negrón-Oyarzo I, Dib T, Chacana-Véliz L, López-Quilodrán N, Urrutia-Piñones J. Large-scale coupling of prefrontal activity patterns as a mechanism for cognitive control in health and disease: evidence from rodent models. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1286111. [PMID: 38638163 PMCID: PMC11024307 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1286111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control of behavior is crucial for well-being, as allows subject to adapt to changing environments in a goal-directed way. Changes in cognitive control of behavior is observed during cognitive decline in elderly and in pathological mental conditions. Therefore, the recovery of cognitive control may provide a reliable preventive and therapeutic strategy. However, its neural basis is not completely understood. Cognitive control is supported by the prefrontal cortex, structure that integrates relevant information for the appropriate organization of behavior. At neurophysiological level, it is suggested that cognitive control is supported by local and large-scale synchronization of oscillatory activity patterns and neural spiking activity between the prefrontal cortex and distributed neural networks. In this review, we focus mainly on rodent models approaching the neuronal origin of these prefrontal patterns, and the cognitive and behavioral relevance of its coordination with distributed brain systems. We also examine the relationship between cognitive control and neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex, and its role in normal cognitive decline and pathological mental conditions. Finally, based on these body of evidence, we propose a common mechanism that may underlie the impaired cognitive control of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Negrón-Oyarzo
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Tatiana Dib
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lorena Chacana-Véliz
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nélida López-Quilodrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Jocelyn Urrutia-Piñones
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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4
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Hill PF, Bermudez S, McAvan AS, Garren JD, Grilli MD, Barnes CA, Ekstrom AD. Age differences in spatial memory are mitigated during naturalistic navigation. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2024:1-25. [PMID: 38445641 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2024.2326244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Spatial navigation deficits are often observed among older adults on tasks that require navigating virtual reality (VR) environments on a computer screen. We investigated whether these age differences are attenuated when tested in more naturalistic and ambulatory virtual environments. In Experiment 1, young and older adults navigated a variant of the Morris Water Maze task in each of two VR conditions: a desktop VR condition which required using a mouse and keyboard to navigate, and an ambulatory VR condition which permitted unrestricted locomotion. In Experiment 2, we examined whether age- and VR-related differences in spatial performance were affected by the inclusion of additional spatial cues. In both experiments, older adults navigated to target locations less precisely than younger individuals in the desktop condition. Age differences were significantly attenuated, however, when tested in the ambulatory VR environment. These findings underscore the importance of developing naturalistic assessments of spatial memory and navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Hill
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Andrew S McAvan
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua D Garren
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Matthew D Grilli
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Arne D Ekstrom
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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5
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Cammisuli DM, Tuena C, Riva G, Repetto C, Axmacher N, Chandreswaran V, Isella V, Pomati S, Zago S, Difonzo T, Pavanello G, Prete LA, Stramba-Badiale M, Mauro A, Cattaldo S, Castelnuovo G. Exploring the Remediation of Behavioral Disturbances of Spatial Cognition in Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens with Mild Cognitive Impairment via Innovative Technological Apparatus (BDSC-MCI Project): Protocol for a Prospective, Multi-Center Observational Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:192. [PMID: 38392625 PMCID: PMC10890288 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial navigation (SN) has been reported to be one of the first cognitive domains to be affected in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which occurs as a result of progressive neuropathology involving specific brain areas. Moreover, the epsilon 4 isoform of apolipoprotein-E (APOE-ε4) has been associated with both sporadic and familial late-onset AD, and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD are more likely to progressively deteriorate. Spatial navigation performance will be examined on a sample of 76 community-dwelling senior citizens (25 healthy controls; 25 individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD); and 26 patients with MCI due to AD) via a virtual computer-based task (i.e., the AppleGame) and a naturalistic task (i.e., the Detour Navigation Test-modified version) for which a wearable device with sensors will be used for recording gait data and revealing physiological parameters that may be associated with spatial disorientation. We expect that patients with MCI due to AD and APOE-ε4 carriers will show altered SN performances compared to individuals with SCD and healthy controls in the experimental tasks, and that VR testing may predict ecological performance. Impaired SN performances in people at increased risk of developing AD may inform future cognitive rehabilitation protocols for counteracting spatial disorientation that may occur during elders' traveling to unfamiliar locations. The research protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals and discussed in national and international congresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cosimo Tuena
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Human Technology Lab, Catholic University, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Repetto
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Nikolai Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Varnan Chandreswaran
- Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Valeria Isella
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Milan Center for Neurosciences, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Pomati
- Neurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Zago
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Teresa Difonzo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giada Pavanello
- School of Specialization in Clinical Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Augusto Prete
- School of Specialization in Clinical Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Stramba-Badiale
- Department of Geriatrics and Cardiovascular Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mauro
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, "San Giuseppe" Hospital, 33081 Piancavallo, Italy
| | - Stefania Cattaldo
- Clinic Neurobiology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, "San Giuseppe" Hospital, 33081 Piancavallo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, 20123 Milan, Italy
- Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20149 Milan, Italy
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Brito DVC, Esteves F, Rajado AT, Silva N, Araújo I, Bragança J, Castelo-Branco P, Nóbrega C. Assessing cognitive decline in the aging brain: lessons from rodent and human studies. NPJ Aging 2023; 9:23. [PMID: 37857723 PMCID: PMC10587123 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-023-00120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
As life expectancy continues to increase worldwide, age-related dysfunction will largely impact our societies in the future. Aging is well established to promote the deterioration of cognitive function and is the primary risk factor for the development of prevalent neurological disorders. Even in the absence of dementia, age-related cognitive decline impacts specific types of memories and brain structures in humans and animal models. Despite this, preclinical and clinical studies that investigate age-related changes in brain physiology often use largely different methods, which hinders the translational potential of findings. This review seeks to integrate what is known about age-related changes in the brain with analogue cognitive tests used in humans and rodent studies, ranging from "pen and paper" tests to virtual-reality-based paradigms. Finally, we draw parallels between the behavior paradigms used in research compared to the enrollment into clinical trials that aim to study age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V C Brito
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
| | - F Esteves
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
| | - A T Rajado
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
| | - N Silva
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
| | - I Araújo
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J Bragança
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - P Castelo-Branco
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal
- Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - C Nóbrega
- Algarve Biomedical Center-Research Institute (ABC-RI), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal.
- Algarve Biomedical Center- (ABC), Campus Gambelas, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld.2, Faro, Portugal.
- Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Hill PF, Bermudez S, McAvan AS, Garren JD, Grilli MD, Barnes CA, Ekstrom AD. Age differences in spatial memory are mitigated during naturalistic navigation. bioRxiv 2023:2023.01.23.525279. [PMID: 36747699 PMCID: PMC9900839 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.23.525279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Spatial navigation deficits in older adults are well documented. These findings are often based on experimental paradigms that require using a joystick or keyboard to navigate a virtual desktop environment. In the present study, we investigated whether age differences in spatial memory are attenuated when tested in a more naturalistic and ambulatory virtual environment. In Experiment 1, cognitively normal young and older adults navigated a virtual variant of the Morris Water Maze task in each of two virtual reality (VR) conditions: a desktop VR condition which required using a mouse and keyboard to navigate and an immersive and ambulatory VR condition which permitted unrestricted locomotion. In Experiment 2, we examined whether age- and VR-related differences in spatial performance were affected by the inclusion of additional spatial cues in an independent sample of young and older adults. In both experiments, older adults navigated to target locations less precisely than did younger individuals in the desktop condition, replicating numerous prior studies. These age differences were significantly attenuated, however, when tested in the fully immersive and ambulatory environment. These findings underscore the importance of developing naturalistic and ecologically valid measures of spatial memory and navigation, especially when performing cross-sectional studies of cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F. Hill
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | | | | | | | - Matthew D. Grilli
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Carol A. Barnes
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Arne D. Ekstrom
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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Lorentzen IM, Espenes J, Eliassen IV, Hessen E, Waterloo K, Nakling A, Gísladóttir B, Jarholm J, Fladby T, Kirsebom BE. Investigating the relationship between allocentric spatial working memory and biomarker status in preclinical and prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37552673 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2236262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
The 4 Mountain Test (4MT) is a test of allocentric spatial working memory and has been proposed as an earlier marker of predementia Alzheimer's disease (AD) than episodic verbal memory. We here compare the 4MT to the CERAD word list memory recall in both cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cases with or without cerebrospinal fluid markers (CSF) of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Linear regression was used to assess the influence of CSF determined Aβ-plaque (Aβ-/+) or neurofibrillary tau tangles (Tau-/+) on 4MT and CERAD recall performance. Analyses were performed in the full sample and the CN and MCI sub-samples. Pearson correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between 4MT and tests of psychomotor speed, verbal memory, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and visuo-spatial perception. Analyses showed no significant differences in 4MT scores between Aβ-/Aβ+, nor Tau-/Tau + participants, irrespective of cognitive status. In contrast, CERAD recall scores were lower in both Aβ+ compared to Aβ- (p<.01), and Tau + compared to Tau- participants (p<.01) in the full sample analyses. There were no significant differences in CERAD recall performance between Aβ- vs. Aβ+ and Tau- vs. to Tau + in the in CN/MCI sub-samples. 4MT scores were significantly correlated with tests of psychomotor speed, cognitive flexibility, and visuo-spatial perception in the full sample analyses. In conclusion, the CERAD recall outperformed the 4MT as a cognitive marker of CSF determined AD pathology. This suggests that allocentric working memory, as measured by the 4MT, may not be used as an early marker of predementia AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Myrvoll Lorentzen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jacob Espenes
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingvild Vøllo Eliassen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Erik Hessen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Knut Waterloo
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Arne Nakling
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Berglind Gísladóttir
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Jonas Jarholm
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tormod Fladby
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørn-Eivind Kirsebom
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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9
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Plaza-Rosales I, Brunetti E, Montefusco-Siegmund R, Madariaga S, Hafelin R, Ponce DP, Behrens MI, Maldonado PE, Paula-Lima A. Visual-spatial processing impairment in the occipital-frontal connectivity network at early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1097577. [PMID: 36845655 PMCID: PMC9947357 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1097577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, but its pathophysiological phenomena are not fully elucidated. Many neurophysiological markers have been suggested to identify early cognitive impairments of AD. However, the diagnosis of this disease remains a challenge for specialists. In the present cross-sectional study, our objective was to evaluate the manifestations and mechanisms underlying visual-spatial deficits at the early stages of AD. Methods We combined behavioral, electroencephalography (EEG), and eye movement recordings during the performance of a spatial navigation task (a virtual version of the Morris Water Maze adapted to humans). Participants (69-88 years old) with amnesic mild cognitive impairment-Clinical Dementia Rating scale (aMCI-CDR 0.5) were selected as probable early AD (eAD) by a neurologist specialized in dementia. All patients included in this study were evaluated at the CDR 0.5 stage but progressed to probable AD during clinical follow-up. An equal number of matching healthy controls (HCs) were evaluated while performing the navigation task. Data were collected at the Department of Neurology of the Clinical Hospital of the Universidad de Chile and the Department of Neuroscience of the Faculty of Universidad de Chile. Results Participants with aMCI preceding AD (eAD) showed impaired spatial learning and their visual exploration differed from the control group. eAD group did not clearly prefer regions of interest that could guide solving the task, while controls did. The eAD group showed decreased visual occipital evoked potentials associated with eye fixations, recorded at occipital electrodes. They also showed an alteration of the spatial spread of activity to parietal and frontal regions at the end of the task. The control group presented marked occipital activity in the beta band (15-20 Hz) at early visual processing time. The eAD group showed a reduction in beta band functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortices reflecting poor planning of navigation strategies. Discussion We found that EEG signals combined with visual-spatial navigation analysis, yielded early and specific features that may underlie the basis for understanding the loss of functional connectivity in AD. Still, our results are clinically promising for early diagnosis required to improve quality of life and decrease healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Plaza-Rosales
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enzo Brunetti
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Institute of Neurosurgery and Brain Research Dr. Alfonso Asenjo, Santiago, Chile,Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Montefusco-Siegmund
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Locomotor System and Rehabilitation, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Samuel Madariaga
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Hafelin
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela P. Ponce
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Advanced Clinical Research, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Isabel Behrens
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Advanced Clinical Research, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro E. Maldonado
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Pedro E. Maldonado,
| | - Andrea Paula-Lima
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Andrea Paula-Lima,
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10
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Wang Y, Chen T, Wang C, Ogihara A, Ma X, Huang S, Zhou S, Li S, Liu J, Li K. A New Smart 2-Min Mobile Alerting Method for Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer's Disease in the Community. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020244. [PMID: 36831787 PMCID: PMC9954272 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The early identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), in an early stage of AD can expand the AD warning window. We propose a new capability index evaluating the spatial execution process (SEP), which can dynamically evaluate the execution process in the space navigation task. The hypothesis is proposed that there are neurobehavioral differences between normal cognitive (NC) elderly and AD patients with MCI reflected in digital biomarkers captured during SEP. According to this, we designed a new smart 2-min mobile alerting method for MCI due to AD, for community screening. Two digital biomarkers, total mission execution distance (METRtotal) and execution distance above the transverse obstacle (EDabove), were selected by step-up regression analysis. For the participants with more than 9 years of education, the alerting efficiency of the combination of the two digital biomarkers for MCI due to AD could reach 0.83. This method has the advantages of fast speed, high alerting efficiency, low cost and high intelligence and thus has a high application value for community screening in developing countries. It also provides a new intelligent alerting approach based on the human-computer interaction (HCI) paradigm for MCI due to AD in community screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Wang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Medical Center & National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Atsushi Ogihara
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Department of Health Sciences and Social Welfare, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1162, Japan
| | - Xiaowen Ma
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shouqiang Huang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Siyu Zhou
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Shuwu Li
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Jiakang Liu
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Zhejiang-Japan Digital Diagnosis and Treatment and Equipment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine for Major Brain Diseases Joint Laboratory, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- Correspondence:
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11
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Yang Y, Wang D, Hou W, Li H. Cognitive Decline Associated with Aging. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1419:25-46. [PMID: 37418204 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1627-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive decline is one of the most distinct signs of aging, and age-related cognitive decline is a heterogeneous issue varying in different cognitive domains and has significant differences among older adults. Identifying characteristics of cognitive aging is the basis of cognitive disease for early-detection and healthy aging promotion. In the current chapter, age-related decline of main cognitive domains, including sensory perception, memory, attention, executive function, language, reasoning, and space navigation ability are introduced respectively. From these aspects of cognition, we focus on the age-related effects, age-related cognitive diseases, and possible mechanisms of cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - He Li
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Huang Y, Zhang X, Tang J, Xia Y, Yang X, Zhang Y, Wei C, Ruan R, Ying H, Liu Y. Vestibular cognition assessment system: Tablet-based computerized visuospatial abilities test battery. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1095777. [PMID: 36910755 PMCID: PMC9992172 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1095777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The vestibular system is anatomically connected to extensive regions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. However, studies focusing on the impact of vestibular impairment on visuospatial cognition ability are limited. This study aimed to develop a mobile tablet-based vestibular cognitive assessment system (VCAS), enhance the dynamic and three-dimensional (3D) nature of the test conditions, and comprehensively evaluate the visuospatial cognitive ability of patients with vestibular dysfunction. Materials and methods First, the VCAS assessment dimensions (spatial memory, spatial navigation, and mental rotation) and test content (weeding, maze, card rotation, and 3D driving tests) were determined based on expert interviews. Second, VCAS was developed based on Unity3D, using the C# language and ILruntime hot update framework development technology, combined with the A* algorithm, prime tree algorithm, and dynamic route rendering. Further, the online test was built using relevant game business logic. Finally, healthy controls (HC) and 78 patients with vertigo (VP) were recruited for the VCAS test. The validity of VCAS was verified using the test results of random controls. Results In the weeding test, the HC group had a significantly longer span and faster velocity backward than did the VP group. In the 12 × 12 maze, statistically significant differences in step and time were observed between the two groups, with VP taking longer time and more steps. In the mental rotation task, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. Similarly, no significant difference was found in the performance of the two groups on maps 2, 3, and 4 in the 3D driving task. Discussion Thus, impaired visuospatial cognition in patients with vestibular dysfunction is primarily related to spatial memory and navigation. VCAS is a clinically applicable visuospatial cognitive ability test for VP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuehao Zhang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia Tang
- School of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqi Xia
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaotong Yang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanmei Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chaogang Wei
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiqi Ruan
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hang Ying
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuhe Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Kurowska-Rucińska E, Ruciński J, Myślińska D, Grembecka B, Wrona D, Majkutewicz I. Dimethyl Fumarate Alleviates Adult Neurogenesis Disruption in Hippocampus and Olfactory Bulb and Spatial Cognitive Deficits Induced by Intracerebroventricular Streptozotocin Injection in Young and Aged Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415449. [PMID: 36555093 PMCID: PMC9779626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The disorder of adult neurogenesis is considered an important mechanism underlying the learning and memory impairment observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The sporadic nonhereditary form of AD (sAD) affects over 95% of AD patients and is related to interactions between genetic and environmental factors. An intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ-ICV) is a representative and well-established method to induce sAD-like pathology. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is used for multiple sclerosis treatment. The present study determines whether a 26-day DMF therapy ameliorates the disruption of adult neurogenesis and BDNF-related neuroprotection in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb (OB) in an STZ-ICV rat model of sAD. Considering age as an important risk factor for developing AD, this study was performed using 3-month-old (the young group) and 22-month-old (the aged group) male Wistar rats. Spatial cognitive functions were evaluated with the Morris water maze task. Immunofluorescent labelling was used to assess the parameters of adult neurogenesis and BDNF-related neuroprotection in the hippocampus and OB. Our results showed that the STZ-ICV evoked spatial learning and memory impairment and disturbances in adult neurogenesis and BDNF expression in both examined brain structures. In the aged animals, the deficits were more severe. We found that the DMF treatment significantly alleviated STZ-ICV-induced behavioural and neuronal disorders in both age groups of the rats. Our findings suggest that DMF, due to its beneficial effect on the formation of new neurons and BDNF-related neuroprotection, may be considered as a promising new therapeutic agent in human sAD.
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Markostamou I, Coventry KR. Age effects on processing spatial relations within different reference frames: The role of executive functions. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2022:1-17. [PMID: 36121065 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2121212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mental representations of space can be generated and communicated with respect to different reference frames and perspectives. The present study investigated the effects of age and individual differences in domain-general executive functions on people's ability to process spatial relations as expressed in language within different spatial reference frames (SRFs). Healthy adults aged between 18 and 85 completed a novel task involving self-, third-person-, object-, and environment-centered judgements of spatial relations between two objects, as well as standard tests of working memory, inhibition, and mental flexibility. A psychometric evaluation confirmed the test-retest reliability and the convergent and divergent validity of the new task. Results showed that the lifespan trajectories varied depending on the SRF. Processing from a self-centered perspective or an object-centered frame remained intact throughout the adult-lifespan. By contrast, spatial processing from a third-person-centered perspective or within an environment-centered frame declined in late adulthood. Mediation regression models showed that mental flexibility accounted for a significant part of the age-related variance in spatial processing across all allocentric SRFs. The age effects on environment-centered processing were also partially mediated by age-related changes in visuospatial working memory capacity. These findings suggest that at least partially distinct systems are involved in mentally representing space under different SRFs, which are differentially affected by typical aging. Our results also highlight that people's ability to process spatial relations across different SRFs depends on their capacity to employ domain-general effortful cognitive resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Markostamou
- Division of Psychology, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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15
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McLaren R, Chaudhary S, Rashid U, Ravindran S, Taylor D. Reliability of the triangle completion test in the real-world and in virtual reality. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:945953. [PMID: 36034112 PMCID: PMC9411518 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.945953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The triangle completion test has been used to assess egocentric wayfinding for decades, yet there is little information on its reliability. We developed a virtual reality (VR) based test and investigated whether either test of spatial navigation was reliable. Objective To examine test-retest reliability of the real-world and VR triangle completion tests. A secondary objective was to examine the usability of the VR based test. Materials and methods Thirty healthy adults aged 18–45 years were recruited to this block randomized study. Participants completed two sessions of triangle completion tests in the real-world and VR on the same day with a break between sessions. Results In both test versions distance from the endpoint and angle of deviation showed poor test-retest reliability (r < 0.5). Distance traveled had moderate reliability in both the real-world and VR tests (r = 0.55 95% CI [0.23, 0.76]; r = 0.66 95% CI [0.4, 0.83, respectively]). The VR triangle test showed poor correlation with the real-world test. Conclusion The triangle completion test has poor test-retest reliability and demonstrates poor concurrent validity between the real-world and VR. Nevertheless, it was feasible to translate a real-world test of spatial navigation into VR. VR provides opportunities for development of clinically relevant spatial navigation tests in the future.
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Castilla A, Berthoz A, Urukalo D, Zaoui M, Perrochon A, Kronovsek T. Age and sex impact on visuospatial working memory (VSWM), mental rotation, and cognitive strategies during navigation. Neurosci Res 2022; 183:84-96. [PMID: 35905778 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed the impact of sex and typical aging on visuospatial working memory (VSWM), mental rotations, and navigational strategies using behavioral information. Fifty healthy participants regrouped in older (OA) and young adults (YA) performed the Walking Corsi test (WalCT) and the Redrawn Mental Rotation Test (MRT) to explore mental rotation abilities. We recorded kinematic data such as locomotion trajectories, and spatial orientations during navigation. We created a new method of data analysis for the WalCT performances and compared it with the classical approach. This original method allowed us to identify cognitive strategies based on errors analysis. Our data suggested that VSWM and mental rotation capacities in locomotion were modulated by age (YA scored higher than OA), and sex (Young Adult Males (YA-M) having higher performance than Young Adult Females (YA-F). We observed a preferential use of cognitive strategies related to sex; YA-F relied more on egocentric strategies whereas YA-M relied more on allocentric strategies. The preferential use of cognitive strategies in the YA group was not observed in the OA group producing more random errors per sequence. The results suggest the effects that age and sex have on VSWM, cognitive strategies, and mental rotation during navigation and highlight the importance of navigational strategies training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Castilla
- Laboratoire de Psychologie du Développement et de l'Éducation de l'Enfant (LaPsyDÉ), Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France; Laboratoire Psychologie & Neurosciences Institut de Médecine Environnementale (IME), 114 Bd Malesherbes, 75017 Paris, France; Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Alain Berthoz
- Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Mohamed Zaoui
- Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Téo Kronovsek
- Université de Limoges, HAVAE, EA 6310, F-87000 Limoges, France
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Plácido J, de Almeida CAB, Ferreira JV, de Oliveira Silva F, Monteiro-Junior RS, Tangen GG, Laks J, Deslandes AC. Spatial navigation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Gerontol 2022; 165:111852. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Merriman NA, Roudaia E, Ondřej J, Romagnoli M, Orvieto I, O’Sullivan C, Newell FN. “CityQuest,” A Custom-Designed Serious Game, Enhances Spatial Memory Performance in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:806418. [PMID: 35356302 PMCID: PMC8959141 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.806418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial cognition is known to decline with aging. However, little is known about whether training can reduce or eliminate age-related deficits in spatial memory. We investigated whether a custom-designed video game involving spatial navigation, obstacle avoidance, and balance control would improve spatial memory in older adults. Specifically, 56 healthy adults aged 65 to 84 years received 10 sessions of multicomponent video game training, based on a virtual cityscape, over 5 weeks. Participants were allocated to one of three training conditions: the main intervention, the “CityQuest” group (n = 19), and two control groups, spatial navigation without obstacle avoidance (“Spatial Navigation-only” group, n = 21) and obstacle avoidance without spatial navigation (“Obstacles-only” group, n = 15). Performance on object recognition, egocentric and allocentric spatial memory (incorporating direction judgment tasks and landmark location tasks, respectively), navigation strategy preference, and executive functioning was assessed in pre- and post-intervention sessions. The results showed an overall benefit on performance in a number of spatial memory measures and executive function for participants who received spatial navigation training, particularly the CityQuest group, who also showed significant improvement on the landmark location task. However, there was no evidence of a shift from egocentric to allocentric strategy preference. We conclude that spatial memory in healthy older participants is amenable to improvement with training over a short term. Moreover, technology based on age-appropriate, multicomponent video games may play a key role in cognitive training in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niamh A. Merriman
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eugenie Roudaia
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan Ondřej
- School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Carol O’Sullivan
- School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona N. Newell
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Fiona N. Newell,
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Takashima A, Koike R, Soeda Y. Can the entorhinal cortex help distinguish healthy aging brains from pathological aging brains? Aging Brain 2022; 2:100026. [PMID: 36908878 PMCID: PMC9999443 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2021.100026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Takashima
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Riki Koike
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Soeda
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
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Ladyka-Wojcik N, Olsen RK, Ryan JD, Barense MD. Flexible Use of Spatial Frames of Reference for Object-Location Memory in Older Adults. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1542. [PMID: 34827541 PMCID: PMC8616079 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In memory, representations of spatial features are stored in different reference frames; features relative to our position are stored egocentrically and features relative to each other are stored allocentrically. Accessing these representations engages many cognitive and neural resources, and so is susceptible to age-related breakdown. Yet, recent findings on the heterogeneity of cognitive function and spatial ability in healthy older adults suggest that aging may not uniformly impact the flexible use of spatial representations. These factors have yet to be explored in a precisely controlled task that explicitly manipulates spatial frames of reference across learning and retrieval. We used a lab-based virtual reality task to investigate the relationship between object-location memory across frames of reference, cognitive status, and self-reported spatial ability. Memory error was measured using Euclidean distance from studied object locations to participants' responses at testing. Older adults recalled object locations less accurately when they switched between frames of reference from learning to testing, compared with when they remained in the same frame of reference. They also showed an allocentric learning advantage, producing less error when switching from an allocentric to an egocentric frame of reference, compared with the reverse direction of switching. Higher MoCA scores and better self-assessed spatial ability predicted less memory error, especially when learning occurred egocentrically. We suggest that egocentric learning deficits are driven by difficulty in binding multiple viewpoints into a coherent representation. Finally, we highlight the heterogeneity of spatial memory performance in healthy older adults as a potential cognitive marker for neurodegeneration, beyond normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ladyka-Wojcik
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; (R.K.O.); (J.D.R.); (M.D.B.)
| | - Rosanna K. Olsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; (R.K.O.); (J.D.R.); (M.D.B.)
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| | - Jennifer D. Ryan
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; (R.K.O.); (J.D.R.); (M.D.B.)
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Morgan D. Barense
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; (R.K.O.); (J.D.R.); (M.D.B.)
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
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Huang K, Zhou M. A Design for Wayfinding: Developing a Mobile Application to Enhance Spatial Orientation at Taipei Metro. ASI 2021; 4:91. [DOI: 10.3390/asi4040091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Taipei Metro, since its inception in 1996, has become the most important public transport option for commuters and travelers in the metropolitan Taipei area, delivering over two million daily rides. Nevertheless, the interior environment of Taipei Metro has a reputation for being disorienting, especially to the infrequent passengers. By incorporating the methods of behavioral mapping and visibility analysis, this study argues that the occurrence of disorientation is highly dependent on visual properties of Taipei Metro’s interior layout. Specifically, the number of decision-making stops and the visibility conditions of stairs and escalators are found to be particularly influential. To enhance the passengers’ wayfinding experience, a mobile application comprised of two components is proposed. The Route Planner is to advise the passengers to avoid the areas that cause disorientation, while the Navigator, by providing the panoramic views of certain locations, can help the passengers reach their destinations more easily.
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Laczó M, Wiener JM, Kalinova J, Matuskova V, Vyhnalek M, Hort J, Laczó J. Spatial Navigation and Visuospatial Strategies in Typical and Atypical Aging. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1421. [PMID: 34827423 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related spatial navigation decline is more pronounced in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. We used a realistic-looking virtual navigation test suite to analyze different aspects of visuospatial processing in typical and atypical aging. A total of 219 older adults were recruited from the Czech Brain Aging Study cohort. Cognitively normal older adults (CN; n = 78), patients with amnestic MCI (n = 75), and those with mild AD dementia (n = 66) underwent three navigational tasks, cognitive assessment, and brain MRI. Route learning and wayfinding/perspective-taking tasks distinguished the groups as performance and learning declined and specific visuospatial strategies were less utilized with increasing cognitive impairment. Increased perspective shift and utilization of non-specific strategies were associated with worse task performance across the groups. Primacy and recency effects were observed across the groups in the route learning and the wayfinding/perspective-taking task, respectively. In addition, a primacy effect was present in the wayfinding/perspective-taking task in the CN older adults. More effective spatial navigation was associated with better memory and executive functions. The results demonstrate that a realistic and ecologically valid spatial navigation test suite can reveal different aspects of visuospatial processing in typical and atypical aging.
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Fricke M, Kruse A, Schwenk M, Jansen CP, Muehlbauer T, Gramann K, Wollesen B. Requirements of a cognitive-motor spatial orientation training for nursing home residents: an iterative feasibility study. Ger J Exerc Sport Res 2021. [PMCID: PMC8515784 DOI: 10.1007/s12662-021-00762-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A sedentary lifestyle in nursing home residents is often accompanied with reduced life space mobility and in turn affects satisfaction with life. One of the reasons for this may be limited ability to find one’s way around the care facility and its environment. However, spatial orientation exercises might reduce these problems if they are integrated into an adequate cognitive-motor training. Therefore, we integrated six novel and target group-specific spatial orientation exercises into an established multicomponent cognitive-motor group training for nursing home residents and evaluated its feasibility. Forty nursing home residents (mean age: 87.3 ± 7 years) participated in the spatial orientation cognitive motor training (45–60 min, twice a week over a period of 12 weeks). The main outcomes included the feasibility criteria (adherence, completion time, acceptance, instructions, motor performance, materials/set up, complexity) and first measurements of mobility and satisfaction with life (SPPB [Short Physical Performance Battery], SWLS [Satisfaction with Life Scale]). Adherence increased over time. The increase was associated with the adaptions and modifications of the spatial orientation exercises that were made to meet the participants’ requirements. A positive trend was discerned for mobility and life satisfaction, comparing pre- and posttraining data. In summary, the feasibility analysis revealed that future interventions should consider that (a) instructions of demanding spatial tasks should be accompanied by an example task, (b) trainers should be encouraged to adjust task complexity and materials on an individual basis, (c) acceptance of the training should be promoted among nursing staff, and (d) surroundings with as little disturbance as possible should be selected for training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Fricke
- Department of Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, TU Berlin, Fasanenstr. 1, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Adele Kruse
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schwenk
- Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Network Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carl-Philipp Jansen
- Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinic for Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas Muehlbauer
- Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Klaus Gramann
- Department of Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, TU Berlin, Fasanenstr. 1, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Wollesen
- Department of Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, TU Berlin, Fasanenstr. 1, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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24
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De Lillo M, Foley R, Fysh MC, Stimson A, Bradford EEF, Woodrow-Hill C, Ferguson HJ. Tracking developmental differences in real-world social attention across adolescence, young adulthood and older adulthood. Nat Hum Behav 2021; 5:1381-90. [PMID: 33986520 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01113-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Detecting and responding appropriately to social information in one's environment is a vital part of everyday social interactions. Here, we report two preregistered experiments that examine how social attention develops across the lifespan, comparing adolescents (10-19 years old), young (20-40 years old) and older (60-80 years old) adults. In two real-world tasks, participants were immersed in different social interaction situations-a face-to-face conversation and navigating an environment-and their attention to social and non-social content was recorded using eye-tracking glasses. The results revealed that, compared with young adults, adolescents and older adults attended less to social information (that is, the face) during face-to-face conversation, and to people when navigating the real world. Thus, we provide evidence that real-world social attention undergoes age-related change, and these developmental differences might be a key mechanism that influences theory of mind among adolescents and older adults, with potential implications for predicting successful social interactions in daily life.
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Muffato V, Miola L, Pazzaglia F, Meneghetti C. Map Learning in Aging Individuals: The Role of Cognitive Functioning and Visuospatial Factors. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11081033. [PMID: 34439652 PMCID: PMC8394523 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11081033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging coincides with a decline in map learning ability, but it is unclear to what extent different aspects of the mental representation are susceptible. The present study aimed to investigate knowledge about landmarks, their positions and distances (categorical and distance relations, respectively) in relation to aging as well as cognitive functioning (measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), visuospatial abilities, and self-reported wayfinding inclinations. Thirty young adults and 60 older adults (30 aged 63–74 and 30 aged 75–86) learned a map, freely recalled the landmarks and performed a map drawing task (considering the number of landmarks missing, position accuracy and distance accuracy). Before that, older participants were also assessed regarding their general cognitive functioning (MoCA) and a series of visuospatial measures. The results show age-related differences among adults in recalling landmarks and in both categorical and distance relations, with a worsening of performance of old-olds only in the former. Older adults’ MoCA score related to accuracy in the three measures, and an additional role of spatial anxiety was found for distance accuracy. Above and beyond the age-related decline, the quality of older people’s spatial mental representation is related to higher general cognitive level and lower spatial anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Muffato
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.M.); (F.P.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-827-6941
| | - Laura Miola
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.M.); (F.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Francesca Pazzaglia
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.M.); (F.P.); (C.M.)
- Interuniversity Research Center in Environmental Psychology (CIRPA), 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Meneghetti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.M.); (F.P.); (C.M.)
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26
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Kimura K, Moussavi Z. Do Older and Young Adults Learn to Integrate Geometry While Navigating in an Environment of a Serious Game? Neurosci Insights 2021; 16:2633105520988861. [PMID: 33709080 PMCID: PMC7841238 DOI: 10.1177/2633105520988861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the outcomes of an intervention using a serious game designed to be
played on iPads for improving spatial reorientation by training users to
integrate geometry of the environment, instead of relying solely on featural
cues. Using data logged online through a clinical study of using this game, the
effect of training among 16 older adults (69.3 ± 6.4 years, 4 males), who played
the game repeatedly (self-administered) over a period of 8 weeks, was
investigated. The game contains a hexagonal room with 3 objects, textured walls,
and grids on the floor, which are removed one by one as the participant played
the game. In each level, the room also rotates such that the viewpoint of the
user is different from that of the previous level. Participants cannot play a
higher level unless they make no mistake during the trials of the lower test
level. In addition to data of older adults available from that clinical trial,
we recruited 16 young adults (27.3 ± 5.6 years, 4 males) to play the game for 5
sessions and compared their results with those of the older adults. We evaluated
the error type made in each test level and the scores for each session among
older adults. Further, we compared the frequency of each error type between
young and older adults during the test levels that a landmark adjacent to the
target was removed over the first 5 sessions. The results of older adults’
performance suggest they learned to make fewer mistakes over the sessions. Also,
both young and older adults learned to integrate the geometrical cues rather
than relying on the landmark cue adjacent to the target to find the target.
Overall, the results indicate the designed hexagonal room game can enhance
spatial cognition among all age groups of adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazushige Kimura
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Zahra Moussavi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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27
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Zhang JX, Wang L, Hou HY, Yue CL, Wang L, Li HJ. Age-related impairment of navigation and strategy in virtual star maze. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:108. [PMID: 33546606 PMCID: PMC7866711 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02034-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although it is well known that aging impairs navigation performance, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Egocentric strategy requires navigators to remember a series of body-turns without relying on the relationship between environmental cues. Previous study suggested that the egocentric strategy, compared with non-egocentric strategy, was relatively unimpaired during aging. In this study, we aimed to examine strategy use during virtual navigation task and the underlying cognitive supporting mechanisms in older adults. Methods Thirty young adults and thirty-one older adults were recruited from the local community. This study adapted star maze paradigm using non-immersive virtual environment. Participants moved freely in a star maze with adequate landmarks, and were requested to find a fixed destination. After 9 learning trials, participants were probed in the same virtual star maze but with no salient landmarks. Participants were classified as egocentric or non-egocentric strategy group according to their response in the probe trial. Results The results revealed that older adults adopting egocentric strategy completed the navigation task as accurate as young adults, whereas older adults using non-egocentric strategy completed the navigation task with more detours and lower accuracy. The relatively well-maintained egocentric strategy in older adults was related to better visuo-spatial ability. Conclusions Visuo-spatial ability might play an important role in navigation accuracy and navigation strategy of older adults. This study demonstrated the potential value of the virtual star maze in evaluating navigation strategy and visuo-spatial ability in older adults. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02034-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hai-Yan Hou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chun-Lin Yue
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215021, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Hui-Jie Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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28
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Chataigner M, Mortessagne P, Lucas C, Pallet V, Layé S, Mehaignerie A, Bouvret E, Dinel AL, Joffre C. Dietary fish hydrolysate supplementation containing n-3 LC-PUFAs and peptides prevents short-term memory and stress response deficits in aged mice. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 91:716-730. [PMID: 32976934 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain aging is characterized by a decline in cognitive functions, which can lead to the development of neurodegenerative pathologies. Age-related spatial learning and memory deficits are associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation. Anxiety disorders and stress response alterations, occurring for a part of the elderly, have also been linked to an increased neuroinflammation and thus, an accelerated cognitive decline. Nutrition is an innovative strategy to prevent age-related cognitive impairments. Among the nutrients, n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and low molecular weight peptides from proteins, especially those from marine resources, are good candidates for their immunomodulatory, anxiolytic and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study is to determine the combined effect of n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides on cognitive functions, and their mechanism of action. We are the first to show that a dietary supplementation with a fish hydrolysate containing n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides prevented the age-related spatial short-term memory deficits and modulated navigation strategies adopted during spatial learning. In addition, the fish hydrolysate displayed anxiolytic activities with the reduction of anxiety-like behaviour in aged mice, restored the plasmatic corticosterone levels similar to adult animals following an acute stress and modulated the hypothalamic stress response. These effects on behaviour can be explained by the immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties of the fish hydrolysate that limited microgliosis in vivo, decreased LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the expression of growth factors such as BDNF and NGF in vitro. Thus, n-3 LC-PUFAs and low molecular weight peptides contained in the fish hydrolysate can play an important role in the limitation of neuroinflammation and stress response alterations during aging and represent a potential strategy for the prevention of age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chataigner
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Abyss Ingredients, 56850 Caudan, France
| | - P Mortessagne
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - C Lucas
- NutriBrain Research and Technology Transfer, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - V Pallet
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - S Layé
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | | | - E Bouvret
- Abyss Ingredients, 56850 Caudan, France
| | - A L Dinel
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France; NutriBrain Research and Technology Transfer, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - C Joffre
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
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29
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Rounds JD, Cruz-Garza JG, Kalantari S. Using Posterior EEG Theta Band to Assess the Effects of Architectural Designs on Landmark Recognition in an Urban Setting. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:584385. [PMID: 33362491 PMCID: PMC7759667 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.584385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of urban landmark-based navigation has proven to be difficult to study in a rigorous fashion, primarily due to confounding variables and the problem of obtaining reliable data in real-world contexts. The development of high-resolution, immersive virtual reality technologies has opened exciting new possibilities for gathering data on human wayfinding that could not otherwise be readily obtained. We developed a research platform using a virtual environment and electroencephalography (EEG) to better understand the neural processes associated with landmark usage and recognition during urban navigation tasks. By adjusting the architectural parameters of different buildings in this virtual environment, we isolated and tested specific design features to determine whether or not they served as a target for landmarking. EEG theta band (4–7 Hz) event-related synchronization/desynchronization over posterior scalp areas was evaluated at the time when participants observed each target building along a predetermined self-paced route. A multi-level linear model was used to investigate the effects of salient architectural features on posterior scalp areas. Our results support the conclusion that highly salient architectural features—those that contrast sharply with the surrounding environment—are more likely to attract visual attention, remain in short-term memory, and activate brain regions associated with wayfinding compared with non-salient buildings. After establishing this main aggregate effect, we evaluated specific salient architectural features and neural correlates of navigation processing. The buildings that most strongly associated extended gaze time, location recall accuracy, and changes in theta-band neural patterns with landmarking in our study were those that incorporated rotational twist designs and natural elements such as trees and gardens. Other building features, such as unusual façade patterns or building heights, were to a lesser extent also associated with landmarking.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Rounds
- Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | | | - Saleh Kalantari
- Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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30
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Ladyka-Wojcik N, Barense MD. Reframing spatial frames of reference: What can aging tell us about egocentric and allocentric navigation? Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci 2020; 12:e1549. [PMID: 33188569 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Representations of space in mind are crucial for navigation, facilitating processes such as remembering landmark locations, understanding spatial relationships between objects, and integrating routes. A significant problem, however, is the lack of consensus on how these representations are encoded and stored in memory. Specifically, the nature of egocentric and allocentric frames of reference in human memory is widely debated. Yet, in recent investigations of the spatial domain across the lifespan, these distinctions in mnemonic spatial frames of reference have identified age-related impairments. In this review, we survey the ways in which different terms related to spatial representations in memory have been operationalized in past aging research and suggest a taxonomy to provide a common language for future investigations and theoretical discussion. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Memory Neuroscience > Cognition Psychology > Development and Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgan D Barense
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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31
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Ramanoël S, Durteste M, Bécu M, Habas C, Arleo A. Differential Brain Activity in Regions Linked to Visuospatial Processing During Landmark-Based Navigation in Young and Healthy Older Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:552111. [PMID: 33240060 PMCID: PMC7668216 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.552111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Older adults have difficulties in navigating unfamiliar environments and updating their wayfinding behavior when faced with blocked routes. This decline in navigational capabilities has traditionally been ascribed to memory impairments and dysexecutive function, whereas the impact of visual aging has often been overlooked. The ability to perceive visuospatial information such as salient landmarks is essential to navigating efficiently. To date, the functional and neurobiological factors underpinning landmark processing in aging remain insufficiently characterized. To address this issue, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the brain activity associated with landmark-based navigation in young and healthy older participants. The performances of 25 young adults (μ = 25.4 years, σ = 2.7; seven females) and 17 older adults (μ = 73.0 years, σ = 3.9; 10 females) were assessed in a virtual-navigation task in which they had to orient using salient landmarks. The underlying whole-brain patterns of activity as well as the functional roles of specific cerebral regions involved in landmark processing, namely the parahippocampal place area (PPA), the occipital place area (OPA), and the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), were analyzed. Older adults' navigational abilities were overall diminished compared to young adults. Also, the two age groups relied on distinct navigational strategies to solve the task. Better performances during landmark-based navigation were associated with increased neural activity in an extended neural network comprising several cortical and cerebellar regions. Direct comparisons between age groups revealed that young participants had greater anterior temporal activity. Also, only young adults showed significant activity in occipital areas corresponding to the cortical projection of the central visual field during landmark-based navigation. The region-of-interest analysis revealed an increased OPA activation in older adult participants during the landmark condition. There were no significant between-group differences in PPA and RSC activations. These preliminary results hint at the possibility that aging diminishes fine-grained information processing in occipital and temporal regions, thus hindering the capacity to use landmarks adequately for navigation. Keeping sight of its exploratory nature, this work helps towards a better comprehension of the neural dynamics subtending landmark-based navigation and it provides new insights on the impact of age-related visuospatial processing differences on navigation capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Côte d’Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
| | - Marion Durteste
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Marcia Bécu
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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32
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Boccia M, Di Vita A, Diana S, Margiotta R, Imbriano L, Rendace L, Campanelli A, D'Antonio F, Trebbastoni A, de Lena C, Piccardi L, Guariglia C. Is Losing One's Way a Sign of Cognitive Decay? Topographical Memory Deficit as an Early Marker of Pathological Aging. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 68:679-693. [PMID: 30883347 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Spatial navigation tasks reveal small differences between normal and pathological aging and may thus disclose potential neuropsychological predictors of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate which navigational skills are compromised in the early phase of pathological aging as well as the extent to which they are compromised. We performed an extensive neuropsychological evaluation based on working memory and learning tasks (i.e., Corsi Block-Tapping Test and Walking Corsi Test) involving both reaching and navigational vista spaces. We also assessed spatial navigation skills in the real world by asking participants to perform route-learning and landmark-recognition tasks. We conducted a cross-sectional study on nineteen patients with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who displayed either an isolated memory deficit (single-domain amnestic MCI, MCIsd; N = 3) or a memory deficit associated with deficits in other cognitive functions (multi-domain MCI, MCImd; N = 16) as well as on nineteen healthy control participants. The groups' performances were compared by means of mixed factorial ANOVA and two-sample t-tests. We found that patients with MCI performed worse than controls, especially when they were required to learn spatial positions within the navigational vista space. Route-learning within the real environment was also impaired whereas landmark-recognition was spared. The same pattern of results emerged in the MCImd subgroup. Moreover, single case analyses on MCIsd patients revealed a dissociation between learning of spatial positions within navigational vista space and within reaching space. These results suggest that topographical learning is compromised in the early phase of MCIsd and MCImd and that spatial navigation tasks may be used to better characterize topographical disorientation in MCI patients as well as for the early diagnosis of pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Boccia
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Di Vita
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Diana
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Margiotta
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Letizia Imbriano
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Rendace
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizia D'Antonio
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Carlo de Lena
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Piccardi
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, L'Aquila University, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cecilia Guariglia
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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33
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Löckenhoff CE. Leveraging the Common Model to Inform the Research Agenda on Aging and Wisdom. Psychological Inquiry 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1047840x.2020.1750923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corinna E. Löckenhoff
- Department of Human Development, Cornell University/Weill Cornell Medicine, Ithaca, New York
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34
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Grossmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Nic M. Weststrate
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michel Ferrari
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Justin P. Brienza
- UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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35
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Fernandez-Baizan C, Arias JL, Mendez M. Spatial memory assessment reveals age-related differences in egocentric and allocentric memory performance. Behav Brain Res 2020; 388:112646. [PMID: 32344039 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Humans move through the environment to reach a place mainly using two strategies: egocentric, taking the viewer's position as a point of reference, and allocentric, employing external landmarks in order to create a mental map of the environment. Aging seems to be associated with a deterioration in these functions, and although participants are evaluated with both virtual and real-environment tasks, performance on these two strategies is not frequently compared. Our objective was to evaluate egocentric and allocentric spatial memory in young and older adult populations using three tasks performed in real environments that allow the perception of 3-D information present in our daily orientation and make it possible to analyse each strategy separately. Twenty-eight young adults and 27 older adults performed Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory Tasks, the Spatial Span task from CANTAB to assess visuospatial span and visuospatial working memory, and Benton's Judge of Line Orientation Test to measure the ability to establish judgments of spatial relations. Young adults outperformed older adults on spatial memory tasks. The older group improved across allocentric blocks. Young men outperformed older men on both the egocentric and allocentric tasks, whereas young women only achieved better scores than older women on the allocentric task. Our findings support the existence of age-related differences in spatial memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fernandez-Baizan
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA). Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology. University of Oviedo. Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Jorge L Arias
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA). Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology. University of Oviedo. Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Marta Mendez
- Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA). Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology. University of Oviedo. Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
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36
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Parizkova M, Lerch O, Andel R, Kalinova J, Markova H, Vyhnalek M, Hort J, Laczó J. Spatial Pattern Separation in Early Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 76:121-138. [PMID: 32444544 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and basal forebrain are among the first brain structures affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). They play an essential role in spatial pattern separation, a process critical for accurate encoding of similar spatial information. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to examine spatial pattern separation and its association with volumetric changes of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and basal forebrain nuclei projecting to the hippocampus (the medial septal nuclei and vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca - Ch1-2 nuclei) in the biomarker-defined early clinical stages of AD. METHODS A total of 98 older adults were recruited from the Czech Brain Aging Study cohort. The participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) due to AD (n = 44), mild AD dementia (n = 31), and cognitively normal older adults (CN; n = 23) underwent spatial pattern separation testing, comprehensive cognitive assessment, and MRI brain volumetry. RESULTS Spatial pattern separation accuracy was lower in the early clinical stages of AD compared to the CN group (p < 0.001) and decreased with disease severity (CN > aMCI due to AD > AD dementia). Controlling for general memory and cognitive performance, demographic characteristics and psychological factors did not change the results. Hippocampal and Ch1-2 volumes were directly associated with spatial pattern separation performance while the entorhinal cortex operated on pattern separation indirectly through the hippocampus. CONCLUSION Smaller volumes of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and basal forebrain Ch1-2 nuclei are linked to spatial pattern separation impairment in biomarker-defined early clinical AD and may contribute to AD-related spatial memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Parizkova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Lerch
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ross Andel
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jana Kalinova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Markova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vyhnalek
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Hort
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Laczó
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Sodums DJ, Bohbot VD. Negative correlation between grey matter in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus in healthy aging. Hippocampus 2020; 30:892-908. [PMID: 32384195 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiological changes that occur with aging include a reduction in function and volume of the hippocampus. These changes were associated with corresponding memory deficits in navigation tasks. However, navigation can involve different strategies that are dependent on the hippocampus and caudate nucleus. The proportion of people using hippocampus-dependent spatial strategies decreases across the lifespan. As such, the decrease in spatial strategies, and corresponding increase in caudate nucleus-dependent response strategies with age, may play a role in the observed neurobiological changes in the hippocampus. Furthermore, we previously showed a negative correlation between grey matter in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus/striatum in mice, young adults, and in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. As such, we hypothesized that this negative relationship between the two structures would be present during normal aging. The aim of the current study was to investigate this gap in the literature by studying the relationship between grey matter in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus of the striatum, in relation to each other and to navigation strategies, during healthy aging. Healthy older adults (N = 39) were tested on the Concurrent Spatial Discrimination Learning Task (CSDLT), a virtual radial task that dissociates between spatial and response strategies. A regression of strategies against structural MRIs showed for the first time in older adults that the response strategy was associated with higher amounts of grey matter in the caudate nucleus. As expected, the spatial strategy correlated with grey matter in the hippocampus, which was negatively correlated with grey matter in the caudate nucleus. Interestingly, a sex difference emerged showing that among older adult response learners, women have the least amount of grey matter in the hippocampus, which is a known risk for Alzheimer's disease. This difference was absent among spatial learners. These results are discussed in the context of the putative protective role of spatial memory against grey matter loss in the hippocampus, especially in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin J Sodums
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Véronique D Bohbot
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Davis R, Veltkamp A. Wayfinding Strategies and Spatial Anxiety in Older Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease. Res Gerontol Nurs 2020; 13:91-101. [PMID: 31697391 PMCID: PMC7294754 DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20191022-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often experience problems finding their way (i.e., wayfinding) even in familiar locations. One possible explanation for wayfinding impairments in persons with AD is that they use different wayfinding strategies than persons without AD; and these strategies may be ineffective. The current study examined differences in wayfinding strategies and spatial anxiety in older adults with and without early-stage AD, as well as the effect gender has on both variables. Older adults with normal cognition (n = 50) and adults with early stage AD (n = 38) completed a demographic survey, cognitive tests, the Wayfinding Strategies Scale, and the Spatial Anxiety Scale. Results indicated that adults with normal cognition used significantly more orientation strategies (t [85] = 2.54, p = 0.013) than adults with AD, and men (n = 37) used significantly more orientation strategies than women (n = 51; t [85] = 2.41, p = 0.018). Participants with AD rated their spatial anxiety significantly higher than adults with normal cognition (n = 51; t [84] = -3.89, p < 0.001). Orientation strategy use was inversely related to spatial anxiety (r = -0.434, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that persons with early-stage AD may use fewer wayfinding strategies and have higher wayfinding-related anxiety compared to adults without AD. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 13(2), 91-101.].
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van der Ham IJ, Claessen MH. How age relates to spatial navigation performance: Functional and methodological considerations. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 58:101020. [PMID: 31954190 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Aging effects have often been reported for spatial navigation performance. Moreover, navigation performance is thought to be an early marker of pathological aging. Yet, the cognitive complexity of navigation and large individual variation in healthy population make it difficult to pinpoint the precise aging mechanisms involved. We performed a systematic literature review with specific attention to functional dissociation between the tasks used and methodological characteristics. The literature search resulted in 39 articles in which age comparisons were made for large-scale navigation measures. Outcomes were categorized into the domains of landmark, location (egocentric and allocentric), and path knowledge (route and survey). Results indicate that clear functional dissociation exists between these navigation knowledge domains. Aging effects are found for path knowledge most convincingly, while landmark and egocentric location knowledge are frequently omitted in assessment. The participant samples reported often neglect adult, middle aged participants, while this group could be highly informative to the aging process as well. Moreover, having a clear image of age-related performance across the lifespan could be a valuable addition towards the early detection of pathological aging through navigation performance.
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Laczó J, Cechova K, Parizkova M, Lerch O, Andel R, Matoska V, Kaplan V, Matuskova V, Nedelska Z, Vyhnalek M, Hort J. The Combined Effect of APOE and BDNF Val66Met Polymorphisms on Spatial Navigation in Older Adults. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 78:1473-1492. [PMID: 33325388 PMCID: PMC7836052 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is associated with episodic memory and spatial navigation deficits. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Met allele may further worsen memory impairment in APOEɛ4 carriers but its role in APOEɛ4-related spatial navigation deficits has not been established. OBJECTIVE We examined influence of APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism combination on spatial navigation and volumes of selected navigation-related brain regions in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS 187 participants (aMCI [n = 116] and CU [n = 71]) from the Czech Brain Aging Study were stratified based on APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms into four groups: ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val, ɛ4-/BDNFMet, ɛ4+/BDNFVal/Val, and ɛ4+/BDNFMet. The participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological examination, brain MRI, and spatial navigation testing of egocentric, allocentric, and allocentric delayed navigation in a real-space human analogue of the Morris water maze. RESULTS Among the aMCI participants, the ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had the least accurate egocentric navigation performance (p < 0.05) and lower verbal memory performance than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val group (p = 0.007). The ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had smaller hippocampal and entorhinal cortical volumes than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val (p≤0.019) and ɛ4-/BDNFMet (p≤0.020) groups. Among the CU participants, the ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had less accurate allocentric and allocentric delayed navigation performance than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of APOEɛ4 and BDNF Met polymorphisms is associated with more pronounced egocentric navigation impairment and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe regions in individuals with aMCI and less accurate allocentric navigation in CU older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Laczó
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Cechova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Parizkova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Lerch
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ross Andel
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Vaclav Matoska
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Immunology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Kaplan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Immunology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Matuskova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Nedelska
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vyhnalek
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Hort
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Kimura K, Reichert JF, Kelly DM, Moussavi Z. Older Adults Show Less Flexible Spatial Cue Use When Navigating in a Virtual Reality Environment Compared With Younger Adults. Neurosci Insights 2019; 14:2633105519896803. [PMID: 32363348 PMCID: PMC7176399 DOI: 10.1177/2633105519896803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily life requires accurate navigation, and thus better understanding of aging on navigational abilities is critical. Importantly, the use of spatial properties by older and younger adults remains unclear. During this study, younger and older human adults were presented with a virtual environment in which they had to navigate a series of hallways. The hallways provided 2 general types of spatial information: geometric, which included distance and directional turns along a learned route, and featural, which included landmarks situated along the route. To investigate how participants used these different cue types, geometric and/or landmark information was manipulated during testing trials. Data from 40 younger (20 women) and 40 older (20 women) adults were analyzed. Our findings suggest that (1) both younger and older adults relied mostly on landmarks to find their way, and (2) younger adults were better able to adapt to spatial changes to the environment compared with older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazushige Kimura
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - James F Reichert
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Debbie M Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Zahra Moussavi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Vyhnálek M, Marková H, Laczó J, De Beni R, Di Nuovo S. Assessment of Memory Impairment in Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2019; 16:975-985. [PMID: 31724515 DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666191113125303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Memory impairment has been considered as one of the earliest clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. This paper summarizes recent progress in the assessment of memory impairment in predementia stages. New promising approaches of memory assessment include evaluation of longitudinal cognitive changes, assessment of long-term memory loss, evaluation of subjective cognitive concerns and testing of other memory modalities, such as spatial memory. In addition, we describe new challenging memory tests based on memory binding paradigms that have been recently developed and are currently being validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Vyhnálek
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Marková
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Laczó
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Santo Di Nuovo
- Department of Education, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Ramanoël S, York E, Le Petit M, Lagrené K, Habas C, Arleo A. Age-Related Differences in Functional and Structural Connectivity in the Spatial Navigation Brain Network. Front Neural Circuits 2019; 13:69. [PMID: 31736716 PMCID: PMC6828843 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2019.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial navigation involves multiple cognitive processes including multisensory integration, visuospatial coding, memory, and decision-making. These functions are mediated by the interplay of cerebral structures that can be broadly separated into a posterior network (subserving visual and spatial processing) and an anterior network (dedicated to memory and navigation planning). Within these networks, areas such as the hippocampus (HC) are known to be affected by aging and to be associated with cognitive decline and navigation impairments. However, age-related changes in brain connectivity within the spatial navigation network remain to be investigated. For this purpose, we performed a neuroimaging study combining functional and structural connectivity analyses between cerebral regions involved in spatial navigation. Nineteen young (μ = 27 years, σ = 4.3; 10 F) and 22 older (μ = 73 years, σ = 4.1; 10 F) participants were examined in this study. Our analyses focused on the parahippocampal place area (PPA), the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), the occipital place area (OPA), and the projections into the visual cortex of central and peripheral visual fields, delineated from independent functional localizers. In addition, we segmented the HC and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) from anatomical images. Our results show an age-related decrease in functional connectivity between low-visual areas and the HC, associated with an increase in functional connectivity between OPA and PPA in older participants compared to young subjects. Concerning the structural connectivity, we found age-related differences in white matter integrity within the navigation brain network, with the exception of the OPA. The OPA is known to be involved in egocentric navigation, as opposed to allocentric strategies which are more related to the hippocampal region. The increase in functional connectivity between the OPA and PPA may thus reflect a compensatory mechanism for the age-related alterations around the HC, favoring the use of the preserved structural network mediating egocentric navigation. Overall, these findings on age-related differences of functional and structural connectivity may help to elucidate the cerebral bases of spatial navigation deficits in healthy and pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Universités, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Elizabeth York
- Sorbonne Universités, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Marine Le Petit
- Sorbonne Universités, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Karine Lagrené
- Sorbonne Universités, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Universités, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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Logan S, Royce GH, Owen D, Farley J, Ranjo-Bishop M, Sonntag WE, Deepa SS. Accelerated decline in cognition in a mouse model of increased oxidative stress. GeroScience 2019; 41:591-607. [PMID: 31641924 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-019-00105-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice deficient in the antioxidant enzyme Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Sod1KO mice) have a significant reduction in lifespan, exhibit many phenotypes of accelerated aging, and have high levels of oxidative stress in various tissues. Age-associated cognitive decline is a hallmark of aging and the increase in oxidative stress/damage with age is one of the mechanisms proposed for cognitive decline with age. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine if Sod1KO mice exhibit an accelerated loss in cognitive function similar to that observed in aged animals. Cognition was assessed in Sod1KO and wild type (WT) mice using an automated home-cage testing apparatus (Noldus PhenoTyper) that included an initial discrimination and reversal task. Comparison of the total distance moved by the mice during light and dark phases of the study demonstrated that the Sod1KO mice do not show a deficit in movement. Assessment of cognitive function showed no significant difference between Sod1KO and WT mice during the initial discrimination phase of learning. However, during the reversal task, Sod1KO mice showed a significantly greater number of incorrect entries compared to WT mice indicating a decline in cognition similar to that observed in aged animals. Markers of oxidative stress (4-Hydroxynonenal, 4-HNE) and neuroinflammation [proinflammatory cytokines (IL6 and IL-1β) and neuroinflammatory markers (CD68, TLR4, and MCP1)] were significantly elevated in the hippocampus of male and female Sod1KO compared to WT mice. This study provides important evidence that increases in oxidative stress alone are sufficient to induce neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction that parallels the memory deficits seen in advanced aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreemathi Logan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Gordon H Royce
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Daniel Owen
- Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L Young Blvd, BMSB-860, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Julie Farley
- Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L Young Blvd, BMSB-860, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Michelle Ranjo-Bishop
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - William E Sonntag
- Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L Young Blvd, BMSB-860, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Sathyaseelan S Deepa
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th Street, BRC-1372, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
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Abstract
Spatial memory is a cognitive ability which declines with ageing thus showing changes in some process such as the use of allocentric strategies. These age-related changes in spatial orientation suggest that this skill could be an adequate marker of cognitive decline. Many tasks used in investigation to assess spatial memory demand a participant's active role, which involves that the navigational experience is different for everyone. In this study, the Almeria Spatial Memory Recognition Test (ASMRT), a test based on a recognition paradigm, was used to offer the same experience with the environment. The aim of this research was to determine if the ASMRT is suitable to be applied in the elderly and detect spatial memory differences as one age. The ASMRT and other neuropsychological tests were applied in a sample aged between 50and 79 years. Results revealed a decrease in the ASMRT performance by the older group. No gender differences were found. Performance in attention and visuospatial working memory tests revealed some correlations with the ASMRT performance. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that 70-79-year-old participants clearly show age-related changes in spatial memory. Thanks to its simplicity the ASMRT could be used as a screening test in medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tascón
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería , Almeria , Spain.,Health Research Centre, University of Almería , Almería , Spain
| | - Joaquín Castillo
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería , Almeria , Spain.,Health Research Centre, University of Almería , Almería , Spain
| | - José Manuel Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería , Almeria , Spain.,Health Research Centre, University of Almería , Almería , Spain
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Coughlan G, Laczó J, Hort J, Minihane AM, Hornberger M. Spatial navigation deficits - overlooked cognitive marker for preclinical Alzheimer disease? Nat Rev Neurol 2018; 14:496-506. [PMID: 29980763 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-018-0031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Detection of incipient Alzheimer disease (AD) pathophysiology is critical to identify preclinical individuals and target potentially disease-modifying therapies towards them. Current neuroimaging and biomarker research is strongly focused in this direction, with the aim of establishing AD fingerprints to identify individuals at high risk of developing this disease. By contrast, cognitive fingerprints for incipient AD are virtually non-existent as diagnostics and outcomes measures are still focused on episodic memory deficits as the gold standard for AD, despite their low sensitivity and specificity for identifying at-risk individuals. This Review highlights a novel feature of cognitive evaluation for incipient AD by focusing on spatial navigation and orientation deficits, which are increasingly shown to be present in at-risk individuals. Importantly, the navigation system in the brain overlaps substantially with the regions affected by AD in both animal models and humans. Notably, spatial navigation has fewer verbal, cultural and educational biases than current cognitive tests and could enable a more uniform, global approach towards cognitive fingerprints of AD and better cognitive treatment outcome measures in future multicentre trials. The current Review appraises the available evidence for spatial navigation and/or orientation deficits in preclinical, prodromal and confirmed AD and identifies research gaps and future research priorities.
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Abstract
Updating navigational memories is important for everyday tasks. It was recently found that older adults are impaired in updating spatial representations in small, bi-dimensional layouts. Because performance in small-scale areas cannot predict navigational behavior, we investigated how aging affects the updating of navigational memories encoded in large, 3-dimensional environments. Moreover, since locations can be encoded relative to the observer (egocentric encoding) or relative to landmarks (allocentric encoding), we tested whether the presumed age-related spatial updating deficit depends on the available spatial cues. By combining whole-body motion tracking with immersive virtual reality, we could dissociate egocentric and allocentric spatial cues and assess navigational memory under ecologically valid conditions (i.e., providing body-based and visual cues). In the task, objects were relocated overnight, and young and older participants had to navigate to the updated locations of the objects. In addition to replicating age-related deficits in allocentric memory, we found age-related impairments in updating navigational memories following egocentric encoding. Finally, older participants depicted stronger representations of the previous navigational context that were correlated with their spatial updating deficits. Given that these effects may stem from inefficient suppression of former navigational memories, our findings propose a mechanism that helps explain the navigational decline in aging.
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Li AWY, King J. Spatial memory and navigation in ageing: A systematic review of MRI and fMRI studies in healthy participants. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:33-49. [PMID: 31129234 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM Spatial deficits are widely observed in normal ageing and early Alzheimer's disease. This review systematically examined neuroimaging evidence for structural and functional differences in the hippocampus (HC) associated with non-pathological age-related changes in allocentric spatial abilities. METHODS Databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies on allocentric spatial processing in normal ageing including MRI or fMRI data. 15 eligible studies were reviewed after applying exclusion criteria and quality assessment. RESULTS There was a marked deficit in allocentric spatial processing and trend towards egocentric strategies in older adults when compared to young controls or across the lifespan, associated in the majority of studies with HC volumetric changes, metabolic or microstructural indicators, and underactivity. A few studies reported no significant correlations. CONCLUSION Findings confirm literature supporting an age-related allocentric spatial processing deficit and a shift towards egocentric strategies. A majority of studies implicated HC atrophy, microstructural/metabolic alterations or functional changes in age-related allocentric spatial impairment. More sensitive imaging techniques and ecologically valid spatial tasks are needed to detect subtle changes in the HC and brain's navigational network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne W Y Li
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
| | - John King
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Fernandez-Baizan C, Diaz-Caceres E, Arias JL, Mendez M. Egocentric and allocentric spatial memory in healthy aging: performance on real-world tasks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 52:e8041. [PMID: 30994731 PMCID: PMC6472934 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20198041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Although normal aging has been related to several cognitive difficulties, other processes have been studied less, such as spatial memory. Our aim was to compare egocentric and allocentric memory in an elderly population using ecological tasks. Twenty-eight cognitively unimpaired participants performed Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory Tasks, as well as Spatial Span from CANTAB, Benton's Judge of Line Orientation test (JoLO), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA). The results revealed that younger participants showed better performance than older participants on both the Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory Tasks, although only the Egocentric test was able to discriminate between younger, middle, and older elderly participants. Learning effect was found in Allocentric Spatial Memory Task in younger and older groups, but not in the middle group. Allocentric and egocentric performance was not related to other visuospatial neuropsychological scores and gender did not influence performance in any task. Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory Tasks may be useful tools in early screening for cognitive decline, as they are able to detect age differences in the cognitive unimpaired elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Fernandez-Baizan
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - E Diaz-Caceres
- Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.,Rehabilitation Services, Asturias Central University Hospital, Oviedo, Spain
| | - J L Arias
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - M Mendez
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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Meade ME, Meade JG, Sauzeon H, Fernandes MA. Active Navigation in Virtual Environments Benefits Spatial Memory in Older Adults. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9030047. [PMID: 30813536 PMCID: PMC6468686 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9030047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated age differences in memory for spatial routes that were either actively or passively encoded. A series of virtual environments were created and presented to 20 younger (Mean age = 19.71) and 20 older (Mean age = 74.55) adults, through a cardboard viewer. During encoding, participants explored routes presented within city, park, and mall virtual environments, and were later asked to re-trace their travelled routes. Critically, participants encoded half the virtual environments by passively viewing a guided tour along a pre-selected route, and half through active exploration with volitional control of their movements by using a button press on the viewer. During retrieval, participants were placed in the same starting location and asked to retrace the previously traveled route. We calculated the percentage overlap in the paths travelled at encoding and retrieval, as an indicator of spatial memory accuracy, and examined various measures indexing individual differences in their cognitive approach and visuo-spatial processing abilities. Results showed that active navigation, compared to passive viewing during encoding, resulted in a higher accuracy in spatial memory, with the magnitude of this memory enhancement being significantly larger in older than in younger adults. Regression analyses showed that age and score on the Hooper Visual Organizational test predicted spatial memory accuracy, following the passive and active encoding of routes. The model predicting accuracy following active encoding additionally included the distance of stops from an intersection as a significant predictor, illuminating a cognitive approach that specifically contributes to memory benefits in following active navigation. Results suggest that age-related deficits in spatial memory can be reduced by active encoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Meade
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - John G Meade
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Hélène Sauzeon
- Lab EA413-Handicap, Activité, Cognition & Santé, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
- Flowers Team-INRIA Center, F-33405 Talence, France.
| | - Myra A Fernandes
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
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