Biography
Biography: Attila Lawrence
Abstract
A growing number of aging adults want to remain in multi generational communities rather than relocating to retirement
communities, or having to resort to an institutional setting. To productively function in an environment where all generations interact and live well together, however, one’s ability to manage diminishing cognitive and physical conditions precipitated by the aging process is a major factor that bears on everyone’s quality of life. Because the designed environment frequently plays a significant role in the occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders that involve biological changes, it is self-evident that design strategies intended to support the management of these symptoms daily must be integral to multicomponent intervention strategies and account for their biological and behavioral impact. To operationalize the concept of healthy aging, meaning that it would provide a safe and comfortable environment for those experiencing functional changes related to aging, this presentation summarizes evidence for the development of translational neuroscience-informed design strategies that have the potential to support the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms, a common feature of all neurodegenerative dementias in the elderly.