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Losing your sense of direction in midlife could be a warning of Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin.
The researchers found that adults at risk for dementia due to genetic or lifestyle factors had reduced spatial navigation up to 25 years earlier.
They believe testing someone’s ability to orient themselves using virtual reality could lead to a life-changing early diagnosis.
Dr Coco Newton, from University College London, said: “Our results indicated that this type of change in browsing behavior could represent the earliest diagnostic sign of Alzheimer’s disease.”
“We are now building on these findings to develop a diagnostic clinical decision support tool for the NHS in the coming years, which is a completely new way of approaching diagnosis and will hopefully help people get a better diagnosis.” timely and precise.”
The researchers found that people at highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s had selective difficulties in the navigation task.
Risk factors for Alzheimer’s include a defective gene, a family history of the disease, and little physical activity.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, evaluated the cognition and directional skills of 100 at-risk people between 43 and 66 years old.
The researchers found that people at highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s had selective impairment on the navigation task, with no impairment on other cognitive tests.
In addition to early diagnosis, it is hoped that the study can help scientists better understand the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Dr Richard Oakley, of 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 vital for people to access the right support, plan for the future and receive the right treatment.”
“The 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 may offer a way to detect disease-specific changes early and help people living with dementia in the future.”