Detecting age‐dependent deterioration of spatial working memory with a virtual water maze paradigm in human subjects

Background Virtual-Morris Water Maze (V-MWM) has been developed to assess potential hippocampal-dependent memory decline. Previous attempts showed the V-MWM was sensitive in detecting age-related reference decline, but our pilot study indicated that elderly often could not complete tasks within 60s. Therefore, we have investigated further use of a spatial working paradigm evaluate one-trial learning task allowing for up 120s per trial. Methods Three age groups were recruited from community with cross-sectional design. The Young Adult (YA,n = 22), Elderly (YE,n 30) and older (OE,n 19) defined according subjects’ years: 18-45, 60-69, 70 or above, respectively. programmed using MazeWaker. Subjects navigated 3D circular arena, by uniform walls presented on 14-inch screen an arrow key. Eight distal 3D-cues located outside arena. A total 8 possible locations assigned randomly every two consecutive trials. trials separated 5s interspersed comic strip 15s. target become visible after 120s. Working indexed more efficient navigation trial-1 trial-2 terms latency path-length, ratio: T2/(T1+T2) subjected 3×2×3 (AgexInterference typesxLocations) ANOVAs. Two 60s-nonrevealing probe tests conducted 8th 16th. Percent path-length near target-zones separate 2×2×8 (Age groupsxInterference typesxTarget-zones) Results YA group outperformed both YE OE (F(2,68) 8.17, p .001), no significant interference interaction revealed. However, 15s-interference tended increase (F(1,68) 9.05, p<.005). An overall preference zone identified percent time (F(7,62) 6.03 8.71, respectively, p<.001), together Age x Zones (F(14,126) p<.001) indicative reduce relative YA, performing at intermediate level. Conclusions ur test detect visual-spatial deterioration, procedures insufficient performance all groups. Alternative may be considered future.