neuropsychological profile of topographical disorientation: case report with review of literature

The case study of mrs. mb, an 81-year-old woman, highlights the diagnostic challenges and functional impact of topographical disorientation (td), a condition often associated with the early stages of alzheimer's disease (ad). a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was performed to assess various cognitive domains, with a specific focus on spatial memory.the assessment included specialized tasks to probe allocentric spatial memory and navigational skills. mrs. mb's performance on a blind map task, which requires placing familiar landmarks without visual cues, revealed moderate deficits. this finding is a hallmark of td, indicating a breakdown in the mental representation of space. furthermore, she reported difficulty navigating familiar routes within rabat and described experiencing bizarre sensations during these episodes. the evaluation also identified memory fixation disorders, though these were not yet significantly disruptive to her daily life. these specific neuropsychological findings, particularly the poor performance on the blind map and difficulties in real-world navigation, are highly relevant to diagnosing td. this case underscores the need for a targeted neuropsychological approach to diagnose td, especially when considering its potential as a precursor to typical ad or other atypical variants of ad. future neuroimaging studies are crucial for elucidating the underlying neuroanatomical correlates of these specific cognitive impairments. a deeper understanding of these relationships will facilitate the development of more effective diagnostic tools and targeted interventions to manage td in the elderly population as well as enhance their wellbeing