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Driving continuity in cognitively impaired older drivers
Author(s) -
Shimada Hiroyuki,
Tsutsumimoto Kota,
Lee Sangyoon,
Doi Takehiko,
Makizako Hyuma,
Lee Songchul,
Harada Kazuhiro,
Hotta Ryo,
Bae Seongryu,
Nakakubo Sho,
Uemura Kazuki,
Park Hyuntae,
Suzuki Takao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12504
Subject(s) - cognitive decline , cognition , affect (linguistics) , medicine , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , population , cognitive impairment , mini–mental state examination , working memory , gerontology , dementia , audiology , psychology , psychiatry , environmental health , disease , communication
Aim Cognitive impairment can negatively affect driving performance and increase the risk of driving errors, leading to vehicle crashes. We used a population‐based survey to identify the prevalence of cognitive impairments in older drivers. Methods A total of 10 073 older adults were enrolled in the N ational C enter for G eriatrics and G erontology – S tudy of G eriatric S yndromes. We characterized general cognitive impairment using the Mini‐Mental State Examination ( MMSE ). We also used the N ational C enter for G eriatrics and G erontology‐ F unctional A ssessment T ool, which includes six tasks to assess word list memory, logical memory, attention and executive function, processing speed, and visuospatial skill. Results Just 15% of older women with moderate cognitive decline ( MMSE ≤20) drove, whereas 61% of older men with moderate cognitive decline drove. Cognitively normal participants ( MMSE score 27 and over) scored significantly better on six cognitive tests compared with those with mild ( MMSE score 21–26) or moderate cognitive decline, and those in the mild cognitive decline group scored significantly better on six cognitive tests than those in the moderate cognitive decline group. Conclusion A total of 61% of older men with moderate cognitive decline did not cease driving. These older drivers showed poor cognitive performance in multiple domains compared with those with normal and mild cognitive decline. Further studies are required to clarify the relationships between cognitive decline and car crashes in these high‐risk populations. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 508‐514.