Roberto Fernandez-Romero, MD, MPH, PhD

Mechanisms of Impaired Navigation in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease

Getting lost in familiar surroundings, wandering and unsafe driving are some of the most debilitating early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dr. Fernandez-Romero has previously reported that these symptoms are related to the brain’s inability to process specific kinds of visual information during self-movement. When we walk or drive through the environment, landmarks and objects around us will also appear to move in a three-dimensional motion pattern called optic flow. The ability to perceive and interpret optic flow is critical to navigation, and the brain areas responsible for processing this information are also among the first to be affected in AD. Using the EEG technique called event related potentials (ERP), Dr. Fernandez’s group has measured brainwaves generated in response to optic flow and discovered specific abnormalities in aging and early stage AD. Combining ERPs, brain MRI, and a virtual reality driving test, he proposes to investigate the links between optic flow ERPs, abnormal brain structure, and vehicular driving abilities in patients with mild AD and healthy older adults. He hopes this work will elucidate some of the earliest changes that occur in AD and probe possible links to cognitive aging. It may also lead to the development of new tools for early detection of AD and more objective assessment of driving capacity.