A Systematic Review of Navigation Assistance Systems for People With Dementia

Abstract

Technological developments provide solutions to alleviate the tremendous impact on the health and autonomy due to the impact of dementia on navigation abilities. We systematically reviewed the literature on devices tested to provide assistance to people with dementia during indoor, outdoor and virtual navigation (PROSPERO ID number: 215585). Medline and Scopus databases were searched from inception. Our aim was to summarize the results from the literature to guide future developments. Twenty-three articles were included in our study. Three types of information were extracted from these studies. First, the types of navigation advice the devices provided were assessed through: (i) the sensorial modality of presentation, e.g., visual and tactile stimuli, (ii) the navigation content, e.g., landmarks, and (iii) the timing of presentation, e.g., systematically at intersections. Second, we analyzed the technology that the devices were based on, e.g., smartphone. Third, the experimental methodology used to assess the devices and the navigation outcome was evaluated. We report and discuss the results from the literature based on these three main characteristics. Finally, based on these considerations, recommendations are drawn, challenges are identified and potential solutions are suggested. Augmented reality-based devices, intelligent tutoring systems and social support should particularly further be explored.

Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs) for dementia care and research

“…Several types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, can affect visual cognition and navigational abilities to varying extents (Plácido et al, 2022 ). Spatial navigation aids for people with dementia in forms of digital apps and devices have been explored for years (Kowe et al, 2023 ; Pillette et al, 2023 ). Navigation aid can be useful both for outdoor navigation, e.g., finding your way from the home to a destination, and indoor navigation, e.g., finding the way around a hospital or other large building (García-Requejo et al, 2023 ).…”

Applications of Augmented Reality in Neurology: Architectural Model and Guidelines

“…The symptoms that appear to be linked to early memory loss, particularly spatial memory, are the most critical features of early AD diagnoses. A game environment incorporates the capacity to store and recover the memory of a specific event involving an association between things such as the location and the object attributes [32]. However, such apps challenge the spatial intelligence of the patients with already impaired brains.…”