6th Edition of Neurology World Conference 2026

Abstract

Abstract: The emergence of intelligent cities, urban environments enhanced by digital technologies, data-driven infrastructure, and automated systems, represents a profound transformation of human living conditions. Smart transportation networks, pervasive connectivity, artificial intelligence, and sensor-based environments continuously reshape how individuals interact with their surroundings. These rapid and sustained changes introduce novel cognitive demands, environmental exposures, and psychosocial stimuli. Human adaptation to such evolving urban ecosystems likely extends beyond behavioral and technological literacy to include biological mechanisms. Epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation, provides a dynamic interface between environmental change and gene regulation. DNA methylation patterns can respond to external stimuli such as stress, sensory overload, pollution, and lifestyle factors, potentially influencing brain function and cognition. Understanding how intelligent cities shape the human epigenome is therefore critical for anticipating long-term impacts on cognitive health and human adaptability. The primary objective of this study is to examine how exposure to intelligent city environments is associated with DNA methylation changes and cognitive performance. Specific objectives include the characterization of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles associated with prolonged exposure to intelligent city features, the assessment of cognitive functions relevant to intelligent urban living, including attention, executive control, working memory, and information processing speed and finally the investigation of whether DNA methylation patterns mediate the relationship between intelligent city exposure and cognitive adaptation to urban change. This study will employ a cross-sectional design with literature comparative analyses between individuals living in highly digitized intelligent cities and those in less technologically integrated urban or semi-urban environments. Exposure will be quantified using indicators such as digital infrastructure density, smart mobility usage, automation exposure, data-driven public services, and duration of residence in intelligent cities. We expect to identify specific DNA methylation signatures associated with sustained exposure to intelligent city environments. These signatures are expected to involve genes related to neuroplasticity, stress response, circadian regulation, and cognitive processing. Cognitive outcomes may reflect adaptive changes, such as enhanced executive function or processing efficiency, potentially mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. This research addresses a novel and underexplored dimension of urban health by integrating epigenetics with intelligent city research. As cities increasingly rely on digital and automated systems, understanding how such environments influence human biology and cognition is essential. The findings could inform the design of human-centered intelligent cities that promote cognitive resilience, mental well-being, and sustainable adaptation to change. To conclude, intelligent cities represent not only a technological shift but also a biological and cognitive challenge for human populations. By exploring DNA methylation as a mediator between intelligent urban environments and cognitive function, this study aims to provide measurable evidence of how humans adapt to rapid urban change. Such insights are crucial for shaping future cities that evolve in harmony with human cognitive and biological capacities.