Bo Zhao1  · Shaojiong Zhou1  · Tao Wei1  · Jiahua Xu2  · Chaofan Geng1  · Zhibin Wang1,3 · Yi Tang1,3,4

1 Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China 

2 Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing 100096, China 

3 National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing 100053, China 

4 Neurodegenerative Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100053, China

Abstract

Spatial navigation is one of the brain’s most fundamental abilities, enabling us to move through the world with ease. The seemingly effortless act of navigation depends on complex cognitive functions, with the cognitive map playing a central role. In individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), however, this once intuitive ability becomes disoriented and impaired before the emergence of noticeable memory symptoms. AD pathology disrupts structural and functional disabilities in the brain’s navigation system, resulting in cognitive map-based navigational difficulties. These deficits affect not only physical navigation but also extend into abstract, knowledge-based domains. In this review, we explore the role of cognitive map dysfunction in the navigation impairments seen in AD, synthesizing current evidence from studies of both spatial and non-spatial deficits. These insights may deepen our knowledge of how the brain navigates and also offer promising avenues for predictive biomarkers and targeted interventions.

Keywords

Spatial navigation; Cognitive map; Allocentric navigation; Alzheimer’s disease; Mild cognitive impairment

[SpringerLink]