Losing your sense of direction in middle age can be a warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, years before symptoms begin.
Researchers found that adults at risk for dementia due to genetic or lifestyle factors had impaired spatial navigation up to 25 years earlier.
They believe that testing a person’s ability to find their way using virtual reality could lead to a life-changing early diagnosis.
Dr. Coco Newton from University College London said: ‘Our results indicated that these types of changes in navigation behavior could represent the very first diagnostic signal in Alzheimer’s disease.
‘We are now taking these findings forward to develop a diagnostic clinical decision support tool for the NHS over the coming years, which is a completely new way of approaching diagnostics and will hopefully help people get a more timely and accurate diagnosis.’
Researchers found that people at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease were selectively impaired in the navigation task
Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include a defective gene, family history of the condition, and low physical activity.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, tested the cognition and direction skills of 100 at-risk individuals aged 43 to 66.
Researchers found that people at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease were selectively impaired in the navigation task, without impairment in other cognitive tests.
In addition to early diagnosis, it is hoped that the study can help scientists better understand the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Richard Oakley, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said the study offered “exciting” opportunities for the future.
He said: ‘One in three people born today will develop dementia, and early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for people to access the right support, plan for the future and receive appropriate treatment. to get.
‘Very early symptoms of dementia can be subtle and difficult to detect, but problems with navigation are thought to be some of the first changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
‘It will be exciting to see how this research can provide a way to detect disease-specific changes early and help people with dementia in the future.’