Wayfinding Strategies and Spatial Anxiety in Older Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often experience problems finding their way (i.e., wayfinding) even in familiar locations. One possible explanation for wayfinding impairments in persons with AD is that they use different wayfinding strategies than persons without AD; and these strategies may be ineffective. The current study examined differences in wayfinding strategies and spatial anxiety in older adults with and without early-stage AD, as well as the effect gender has on both variables. Older adults with normal cognition (n = 50) and adults with early stage AD (n = 38) completed a demographic survey, cognitive tests, the Wayfinding Strategies Scale, and the Spatial Anxiety Scale. Results indicated that adults with normal cognition used significantly more orientation strategies (t [85] = 2.54, p = 0.013) than adults with AD, and men (n = 37) used significantly more orientation strategies than women (n = 51; t [85] = 2.41, p = 0.018). Participants with AD rated their spatial anxiety significantly higher than adults with normal cognition (n = 51; t [84] = -3.89, p < 0.001). Orientation strategy use was inversely related to spatial anxiety (r = -0.434, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that persons with early-stage AD may use fewer wayfinding strategies and have higher wayfinding-related anxiety compared to adults without AD. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 13(2), 91-101.].
Authors: Rebecca Davis, Amy Veltkamp
Language: English
Subfield: Automotive Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Institute on Aging
OpenAlex ID: W2983634941