Title | Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment with Real-World and Virtual Navigation Tasks: A Systematic Review. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2021 |
Authors | Tuena, C, Mancuso, V, Stramba-Badiale, C, Pedroli, E, Stramba-Badiale, M, Riva, G, Repetto, C |
Journal | J Alzheimers Dis |
Volume | 79 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 95-116 |
Date Published | 2021 |
ISSN | 1875-8908 |
Keywords | Alzheimer Disease, Cognitive Dysfunction, Humans, Spatial Memory, Spatial Navigation |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Spatial navigation is the ability to estimate one's position on the basis of environmental and self-motion cues. Spatial memory is the cognitive substrate underlying navigation and relies on two different reference frames: egocentric and allocentric. These spatial frames are prone to decline with aging and impairment is even more pronounced in Alzheimer's disease (AD) or in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of experimental studies investigating which MCI population and tasks are used to evaluate spatial memory and how allocentric and egocentric deficits are impaired in MCI after navigation. METHODS: PRISMA and PICO guidelines were applied to carry out the systematic search. Down and Black checklist was used to assess methodological quality. RESULTS: Our results showed that amnestic MCI and AD pathology are the most investigated typologies; both egocentric and allocentric memory are impaired in MCI individuals, and MCI due to AD biomarkers has specific encoding and retrieval impairments; secondly, spatial navigation is principally investigated with the hidden goal task (virtual and real-world version), and among studies involving virtual reality, the privileged setting consists of non-immersive technology; thirdly, despite subtle differences, real-world and virtual versions showed good overlap for the assessment of MCI spatial memory. CONCLUSION: Considering that MCI is a subclinical entity with potential risk for conversion to dementia, investigating spatial memory deficits with navigation tasks might be crucial to make accurate diagnosis and rehabilitation. |
DOI | 10.3233/JAD-201017 |
Alternate Journal | J Alzheimers Dis |
PubMed ID | 33216034 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC7902987 |