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The differential effect of normal and pathological aging on egocentric and allocentric spatial memory in navigational and reaching space

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Abstract

Background

Topographical disorientation (TD) refers to a particular condition which determines the loss of spatial orientation, both in new and familiar environments. TD and spatial memory impairments occur relatively early as effect of cognitive decline in aging, even in prodromal stages of dementia, namely mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Aims

(a) To show that components linked to the recall of familiar spatial knowledge are relatively spared with respect to the learning of unfamiliar ones in normal aging, while they are not in MCI, and (b) to investigate gender differences for their impact on egocentric and allocentric frames of reference.

Method

Forty young participants (YC), 40 healthy elderly participants (HE), 40 elderly participants with subjective memory complaints (SMC), and 40 elderly with probable MCI were administered with egocentric and allocentric familiar tasks, based on the map of their hometown, and with egocentric and allocentric unfamiliar tasks, based on new material to be learned. A series of general linear models were used to analyze data.

Results

No group differences were found on egocentric task based on familiar information. MCI performed worse than the other groups on allocentric tasks based on familiar information (YC = HE = SMC > MCI). Significant differences emerged between groups on egocentric and allocentric tasks based on unfamiliar spatial information (YC > HE = SMC > MCI). A gender difference was found, favoring men on allocentric unfamiliar task.

Conclusion

Familiarity of spatial memory traces can represent a protective factor for retrospective components of TD in normal aging. Conversely, using newly learned information for assessment may lead to overestimating TD severity.

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Acknowledgments

The present study is part of the PhD program of the second author, under the supervision of the last author.

Funding

The first author was supported by the project “Epidemiology of Topographical Disorientation and Mild Cognitive Impairment in a South Italian elderly population”—Action Co-founded by Cohesion and Development Fund 2007–2013—APQ Research Puglia Region “Regional programme supporting smart specialization and social and environmental sustainability—FutureInResearch” (Grant Code CEY4SQ4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Studies of Bari, Via Crisanzio, 42, 70122, Bari, BA, Italy

    Alessandro O. Caffò, Antonella Lopez, Giuseppina Spano & Andrea Bosco

  2. University “Giustino Fortunato”, Viale Raffaele Delcogliano, 12, 82100, Benevento, BN, Italy

    Fabrizio Stasolla

  3. MySpace Lab, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV), Bâtiment Champ de l’Air, Rue du Bugnon, 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Silvia Serino

  4. Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, I.R.C.C.S, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Pellizza da Volpedo, 41, 20149, Milan, MI, Italy

    Pietro Cipresso & Giuseppe Riva

  5. Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20100, Milan, MI, Italy

    Pietro Cipresso & Giuseppe Riva

Authors
  1. Alessandro O. Caffò
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  2. Antonella Lopez
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Correspondence to Alessandro O. Caffò.

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Caffò, A.O., Lopez, A., Spano, G. et al. The differential effect of normal and pathological aging on egocentric and allocentric spatial memory in navigational and reaching space. Neurol Sci 41, 1741–1749 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04261-4

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