As populations age and dementia rates rise, the design of interior spaces is becoming a critical component of care. Assistant Professor Nadim Adi of Texas State University's Department of Interior Design is pushing the field forward with research, a pioneering university course, and the development of NuroNest, an early-stage AI platform designed to identify environmental risks in everyday interiors. The initiative underscores a growing recognition that the built environment can either support or hinder the independence and safety of individuals with cognitive impairments.
NuroNest, grounded in over a decade of research in dementia-supportive design and environmental psychology, analyzes images of interior spaces to flag features such as low contrast between furniture and floors, unclear pathways, visual clutter, and weak wayfinding cues. The tool is intended to assist—not replace—designers, healthcare professionals, occupational therapists, and caregivers. "If we design for physical accessibility, why should we not also design for cognitive accessibility?" Adi asks. "Homes, clinics, senior living communities, and public spaces can unintentionally create risk when they are visually confusing, poorly lit, or hard to navigate. The built environment itself can—and should—be part of the care equation."
The development of NuroNest is still in its early stages, with Adi and his team refining the technology and seeking research validation and partnerships. The long-term vision is to make dementia-supportive design more accessible to families and organizations that recognize a space "doesn't feel right" but lack access to specialists. By raising awareness and guiding better conversations, NuroNest aims to improve quality of life for older adults and those living with dementia.
Adi's teaching and scholarship complement this product vision. With Dr. Mais Aljunaidy, assistant professor of psychology at Texas State, he co-authored An Introduction to Architectural Psychopathology, a textbook focusing on how interior design can support people with mental disorders, including dementia. The pair also developed Texas State's interdisciplinary architectural psychopathology course, offered beginning fall 2025, which trains students to design spaces for individuals with autism, dementia, depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. The course has been covered by Texas State News, Texas Public Radio, and Community Impact.
Adi's peer-reviewed work includes a systematic study of architecture and mental disorders in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, research on virtual reality for assessing dementia-friendly hospital design, and writing on AI and mental disorder art therapy. He has also given a TEDx talk on preparing buildings for an aging population and hosts conversations on design and mental health through Mental Design Labs.
The implications of this work are significant. As the global population ages, the demand for environments that accommodate cognitive decline will only increase. By integrating cognitive accessibility into design education and developing tools like NuroNest, Adi is helping to ensure that future designers and caregivers consider the physical environment as a vital part of dementia care. This approach not only enhances safety and independence but also promotes dignity for millions of individuals.
Dr. Adi and the NuroNest team are actively seeking research collaborators and pilot partners, including community groups, senior living providers, healthcare organizations, and technology partners, to validate and advance the technology. For more information about Dr. Adi's work, visit his faculty profile or connect on LinkedIn.
