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@INPROCEEDINGS{Marquardt:283093,
author = {Marquardt, Jonas and Vockert, Niklas and Behrenbruch,
Niklas and Schumann-Werner, Beate and Hochkeppler, Anne and
Buechel, Anna-Therese and Molloy, Eóin N. and Schwarck,
Svenja and Fischer, Larissa and Incesoy, Enise I and
Garcia-Garcia, Berta and Mattern, Hendrik and Marcos
Morgado, Barbara and Esselmann, Hermann and Stephens, Andrew
W and Schildan, Andreas and Barthel, Henryk and Sabri, Osama
and Wiltfang, Jens and Kreissl, Michael C and Düzel, Emrah
and Kuehn, Esther and Schreiber, Stefanie and Maass, Anne
and Diersch, Nadine},
title = {{H}ippocampal vascularization is associated with greater
efficiency during a remote real world wayfinding training in
older adults},
journal = {Alzheimer's and dementia},
volume = {21},
number = {Suppl 9},
issn = {1552-5260},
reportid = {DZNE-2025-01500},
pages = {e110578},
year = {2025},
abstract = {Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology accumulates early in the
medial temporal lobe (MTL), crucial for spatial navigation.
As spatial navigation is among the first cognitive functions
affected by AD, it may benefit from targeted behavioral
interventions. We investigated the potential of a novel
smartphone-assisted real-world wayfinding training, tailored
for healthy older adults, to improve their spatial abilities
and explored associations with hippocampal vascularization
and AD biomarkers.38 cognitively healthy older adults (62-84
years; 18 females) participated in a 3-week navigation
training, using our smartphone application 'Explore' (Figure
1). Training involved finding several locations displayed on
a map in the medical campus area of Magdeburg, Germany,
while GPS data were recorded. Pre- and post-training,
participants underwent fMRI, performed a pointing task in a
virtual campus version, and completed the VWLT. At
pre-assessment, AD pathology was characterized by plasma
sampling (Abeta1-42/1-40, Ptau217) and [18F]PI-2620 PET in a
subsample. Hippocampal vascularization was assessed by 7T
angiography. Performance in the virtual pointing task and a
map drawing test was compared to a control group (n = 20)
who performed a walking task of equal length without a
navigational component. Additionally, changes in different
mobile wayfinding performance indicators and their
associations with AD biomarkers and hippocampal
vascularization (i.e., mean distance of hippocampus to
surrounding vessels) were examined.Performance in the
pointing task and map drawing, but not in the VWLT (p =
.321), significantly improved due to the training (all p
<.001; Figure 2A C). The control group showed no
improvements in navigation. Training benefits were also
evident in the mobile data (all p ≤.017; Figure 3A-E).
Better wayfinding efficiency was associated with less vessel
distance to hippocampus, r=.44, p = .012, and the number of
orientation stops was negatively related to pTau217, r=-.38,
p = .019 (Figure 3F).We provide evidence that a remotely
administered real-world wayfinding training enhances
wayfinding abilities and improves spatial memory in older
adults. Importantly, hippocampal vascularization may benefit
wayfinding efficiency. Higher pTau217 was related to fewer
orientation stops during navigation. As a next step,
potential mediating effects between vascularization and AD
pathology on wayfinding performance will be investigated.},
month = {Jul},
date = {2025-07-27},
organization = {Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference, Toronto
(Canada), 27 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025},
keywords = {Humans / Female / Aged / Male / Hippocampus: diagnostic
imaging / Hippocampus: blood supply / Aged, 80 and over /
Middle Aged / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Alzheimer Disease
/ Spatial Navigation: physiology / Smartphone / Amyloid
beta-Peptides: blood / Positron-Emission Tomography /
Biomarkers: blood / Mobile Applications / Dementia /
Neuropsychological Tests / Amyloid beta-Peptides (NLM
Chemicals) / Biomarkers (NLM Chemicals)},
cin = {AG Maaß / AG Düzel / AG Schreiber / AG Wiltfang / Core MR
PET / AG Gasser},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-2719)1311001 / I:(DE-2719)5000006 /
I:(DE-2719)1310010 / I:(DE-2719)1410006 / I:(DE-2719)1340016
/ I:(DE-2719)1210000},
pnm = {353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-353},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)1 / PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
pubmed = {pmid:41433357},
pmc = {pmc:PMC12725357},
doi = {10.1002/alz70863_110578},
url = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/283093},
}