title: Exploring the contribution of spatial navigation to cognitive functioning in older adults.
abstract: Spatial navigation (SN) impairment is present early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested whether SN performance, self-centered (egocentric) and world-centered (allocentric), was distinguishable from performance on established cognitive functions-verbal and nonverbal memory, executive and visuospatial function, attention/working memory, and language function. 108 older adults (53 cognitively normal [CN] and 55 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI]) underwent neuropsychological examination and real-space navigation testing. Subset (n = 63) had automated hippocampal volumetry. In a factor analysis, allocentric and egocentric navigation tasks loaded highly onto the same factor with low loadings on other factors comprising other cognitive functions. In linear regression, performance on other cognitive functions was not, or was only marginally, associated with spatial navigation performance in CN or aMCI groups. After adjustment for age, gender, and education, right hippocampal volume explained 26% of the variance in allocentric navigation in aMCI group. In conclusion, spatial navigation, a known cognitive marker of early AD, may be distinguished from other cognitive functions. Therefore, its assessment along with other major cognitive functions may be highly beneficial in terms of obtaining a comprehensive neuropsychological profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: JanLaczo@seznam.cz.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laczó
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nedelska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyhnalek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vlcek
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crutch
authors.affiliation: Metis Cognition Ltd., Kilmington, UK; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hort
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D065854:Spatial Navigation / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Hippocampus; Mild cognitive impairment; Morris Water Maze; Neuropsychology; Spatial navigation