Flinders University researchers develop tool for early dementia detection

Researchers at Flinders University have developed a new tool to detect early signs of cognitive decline by focusing on spatial navigation. The Spatial Navigation and Memory (SPAM) Questionnaire is designed to provide a more accessible and time-efficient method for clinical testing sensitive to cognitive ageing.

In a study involving 940 older adults, neuroscientists Dr. Monique Boord and Dr. Stephanie Wong found that the self-reporting questionnaire effectively captures perceived spatial navigation and memory function over both a lifetime and a three-month period. Because disorientation and difficulty navigating familiar environments often precede significant memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease, the tool aims to provide clinicians with a structured checklist to track these subtle changes.

By moving away from subjective personal memory and toward a structured assessment, the SPAM questionnaire seeks to help clinicians identify cognitive decline earlier, allowing families to better plan for the safety of their loved ones.