Neuropsychological predictors of driving errors in older adults

Jeffrey D Dawson; Ergun Y Uc; Steven W Anderson; Amy M Johnson; Matthew Rizzo

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02872.x

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Neuropsychological predictors of driving errors in older adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Neuropsychological predictors of driving errors in older adults

Jeffrey D Dawson, Ergun Y Uc, Steven W Anderson, Amy M Johnson and Matthew Rizzo

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.58(6), pp.1090-1096

06/2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02872.x

PMCID: PMC3204878

PMID: 20487082

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3204878View

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Abstract

To identify neuropsychological factors associated with driving errors in older adults. Cross-sectional observational study. Neuropsychological assessment laboratory and an instrumented vehicle on a 35-mile route on urban and rural roads. One hundred eleven older adult drivers (aged 65-89; mean age 72.3) and 80 middle-aged drivers (aged 40-64; mean age 57.2). Explanatory variables included age, neuropsychological measures (cognitive, visual, and motor), and a composite cognitive score (COGSTAT). The outcome variable was the safety error count, as classified according to video review using a standardized taxonomy. Older drivers committed an average of 35.8 +/- 12.8 safety errors per drive, compared with an average of 27.8 +/- 9.8 for middle-aged drivers (P<.001). For older drivers, there was an increase of 2.6 errors per drive observed for each 5-year age increase (P=.03). After adjustment for age, education, and sex, COGSTAT was a significant predictor of safety errors in older drivers (P=.005), with an approximately 10% increase in safety errors observed for a 10% decrease in cognitive function. Individual significant predictors of more safety errors in older drivers included poorer scores on the Complex Figure Test--Copy, the Complex Figure Test--Recall, Block Design, Near Visual Acuity, and the Grooved Pegboard task. Driving errors in older adults tend to increase, even in the absence of neurological diagnoses. Age-related decline in cognitive abilities, vision, and motor skills can explain some of this increase. Changes in visuospatial and visuomotor abilities appear to be particularly associated with unsafe driving in old age.

Age Factors

Cross-Sectional Studies

Humans

Middle Aged

Risk Factors

Aging - psychology

Linear Models

Male

Automobile Driving - psychology

Neuropsychological Tests

Cognition Disorders - diagnosis

Statistics, Nonparametric

Aged, 80 and over

Adult

Female

Aged

Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control

Cognition Disorders - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Neuropsychological predictors of driving errors in older adults
Creators: Jeffrey D Dawson - Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. jeffrey-dawson@uiowa.edu
Ergun Y Uc
Steven W Anderson
Amy M Johnson
Matthew Rizzo
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.58(6), pp.1090-1096
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02872.x
PMID: 20487082
PMCID: PMC3204878
NLM abbreviation: J Am Geriatr Soc
ISSN: 0002-8614
eISSN: 1532-5415
Publisher: United States
Grant note: NS 44930 / NINDS NIH HHS AG 17717 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG017177 / NIA NIH HHS AG 15071 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG015071 / NIA NIH HHS R01 NS044930 / NINDS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/2010
Academic Unit: Neurology; Public Health Administration; Biostatistics; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983997445002771

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