Geospatial environmental complexity, spatial brain volume, and spatial behavior across the Alzheimer's disease
Naewoo Shin1, Karen M Rodrigue1, May Yuan2
1Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Center for Vital Longevity, The University of Texas at Dallas Dallas Texas USA.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|February 23, 2024
Summary
Living in complex environments may protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Greater environmental complexity is linked to better brain health and spatial navigation, potentially delaying AD onset.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Understanding environmental influences on Alzheimer's disease (AD) is crucial.
- The role of spatial complexity in navigated environments remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between environmental complexity and spatial navigation in older adults.
- To explore the mediating roles of brain volumes and diagnostic status in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized geospatial data and network analysis to derive an environmental complexity index for 660 older adults from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset.
- Employed latent variable models to assess the mediation effects of brain volumes and cognitive status (cognitively healthy, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], AD) on the relationship between environmental complexity and spatial behavior.
Main Results:
- Higher environmental complexity correlated with larger allocentric navigation-related brain volumes.
- Increased complexity was associated with lower diagnoses of MCI and AD.
- Complex environments positively influenced spatial behavioral performance, mediated by brain volumes and diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Spatially complex environments may enhance neural circuitry for navigation and spatial function.
- Residing in complex environments could be a protective factor against AD-related brain atrophy and spatial deficits.
