UT Dallas Study Reveals Impact of Geographic Complexity on Brain Health

(from left to right) Dr. Kristen Kennedy and Dr. May Yuan are investigating how environmental complexity, the brain’s spatial representation system and the brain degradation associated with Alzheimer’s are connected.

UT Dallas researchers discovered that living in geographically complex environments may lower Alzheimer's risk. Their study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, reveals a link between environmental complexity, brain function, and disease onset. Analyzing data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, they found that complex environments stimulate brain regions involved in spatial navigation, potentially delaying cognitive decline. This insight could lead to nonpharmacological interventions to combat Alzheimer's.