Can virtual navigation strategies predict polygenic risk of Alzheimer disease and cognitive decline?
Description: Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming increasingly central to finding successful treatments before symptoms occur. One of the first brain structures affected by AD is called the hippocampus (HPC). Therefore, finding behaviors that correlate with damage to the HPC may be the key for early detection of AD. Cognitive factors such as navigation strategies (how we find our way in the environment), can depend on the HPC. In fact, we have shown in healthy older adults that using a HPC-dependent navigation strategy is associated with better cognition and a healthier HPC. In contrast, using a non-HPC-dependent navigation strategy is associated with worse cognition and atrophy in the HPC. To date, we have extensively screened and tested 317 healthy older adults. In the current follow-up study, we aim to re-invite them in order to assess whether navigation strategies can predict decline in overall cognition and conversion rates to AD. Re-invited participants will be genotyped to assess the genetic risk of AD, and they will be tested on the same set of memory, IQ, executive function, and navigation tests as during their initial visit. We will perform MRI scans in order to assess the structure of the HPC. This will allow us to to measure cognitive decline, atrophy in the HPC, and AD conversion. We anticipate that older adults who were using non-HPC-dependent navigation strategies during their initial visit will have greater decline in overall cognition. atrophy in the HPC and higher rates of AD diagnosis during their follow-up visit compared to those who were using HPC-dependent navigation strategies. This study will have an impact on AD research because it will provide a tool for the detection of individuals who are on their way to an AD diagnosis. This way, the findings may thus facilitate development of pharmacological or non-pharmacological AD preventive interventions.
Amount: CA$371,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project Grant
Start date: 2023-04-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Investigator: Veronique Bohbot
Institution: CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Ile-de-Montreal-Douglas Hospital
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 185967_1
OpenAlex ID: G48676679