Beyond Traditional Assessments of Cognitive Impairment: Exploring the Potential of Spatial Navigation Tasks
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease affects spatial abilities that are often overlooked in standard cognitive screening tools. We assessed whether the spatial navigation tasks in the Spatial Performance Assessment for Cognitive Evaluation (SPACE) can complement existing tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
METHODS 348 participants aged 21-76 completed the MoCA, SPACE, and sociodemographic- health questionnaires. Regressions were used to predict MoCA scores with risk factors and SPACE tasks as predictors. We also conducted a factor analysis to investigate the relationships among SPACE tasks and the MoCA.
RESULTS Regressions revealed significant effects of age, gender, and SPACE tasks. No risk factors for dementia predicted MoCA scores. The factor analysis revealed that MoCA and perspective taking contributed to a separate factor from other navigation tasks in SPACE. Normative data for SPACE are provided.
DISCUSSION Our findings highlight the importance of navigation tasks for cognitive assessment and the early detection of cognitive impairment. Show more
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https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000716814Publication status
publishedExternal links
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medRxivPublisher
Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryEdition / version
v1Subject
Cognitive impairment; Alzheimer's disease; Ageing; Spatial ability; Navigation; Digital assessmentsOrganisational unit
08058 - Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) / Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC)03987 - Hölscher, Christoph / Hölscher, Christoph
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