The growing prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease has highlighted the need for environments that support cognitive function, not just physical accessibility. Texas State University Assistant Professor Nadim Adi is addressing this gap through his research, a pioneering course, and the development of NuroNest, an AI-powered tool designed to identify environmental hazards in everyday interiors.
Adi, who teaches in the Department of Interior Design within the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, emphasizes that the built environment plays a crucial role in the care of individuals with cognitive impairments. "If we design for physical accessibility, why should we not also design for cognitive accessibility?" he said. "Homes, clinics, senior living communities, and public spaces can unintentionally create risk when they are visually confusing, poorly lit, or hard to navigate."
NuroNest is an early-stage AI platform that analyzes images of interior spaces to detect features that may hinder navigation or safety for people with dementia or age-related cognitive decline. These include low contrast between furniture and floors, unclear pathways, visual clutter, and insufficient wayfinding cues. The tool is intended to support, not replace, professionals such as designers, healthcare providers, and caregivers, by raising awareness and facilitating better conversations about environmental modifications.
The development of NuroNest stems from over a decade of research in dementia-supportive design and environmental psychology. Adi and his team are currently refining the technology and seeking partners for validation and advancement. The long-term goal is to make dementia-friendly design more accessible to families and organizations that may not have immediate access to specialists.
Adi's academic contributions further this mission. He co-authored "An Introduction to Architectural Psychopathology" with Dr. Mais Aljunaidy, an assistant professor of psychology at Texas State. The book explores how interior design can support individuals with mental disorders, including dementia. The duo also developed an interdisciplinary course on architectural psychopathology, which will be offered starting fall 2025. The course trains students to design spaces that actively support people with conditions like autism, dementia, depression, and anxiety disorders, and has been featured by Texas State News, Texas Public Radio, and Community Impact.
Adi's peer-reviewed research includes a systematic study on architecture and mental disorders published in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, as well as studies on virtual reality for assessing elderly and dementia-friendly hospital design. He has also given a TEDx talk on preparing buildings for an aging population and engages in public discourse through Mental Design Labs.
Currently, Adi and the NuroNest team are looking for research collaborators, pilot partners, and organizations interested in validating the technology and improving environments for older adults and those living with dementia. This initiative underscores a growing recognition that the physical environment is a vital component of comprehensive care for cognitive health.
