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Driving and Alzheimer's disease
R G Logsdon1, L Teri, E B Larson
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Many Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients continue driving despite cognitive decline. Brief cognitive and functional assessments can help identify unsafe drivers, crucial for clinical dementia evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) significantly impacts cognitive function.
- Driving cessation is a critical issue for AD patients and their caregivers.
- Assessing driving ability in AD patients is essential for public safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the driving status of Alzheimer's disease patients.
- To determine the effectiveness of brief cognitive assessments in identifying unsafe drivers.
- To explore factors influencing driving cessation in AD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 Alzheimer's disease patients from a geriatric clinic were categorized by driving status (driving with/without difficulty, stopped driving).
- Caregiver reports were used to determine driving status.
- Cognitive tests, functional assessments, age, gender, and dementia duration were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 55% of AD patients had stopped driving, 22% drove without difficulty, and 23% drove with difficulty.
- Cognitive screening, functional assessments, and visual-spatial tasks differentiated drivers from non-drivers.
- Younger age and male gender were associated with continued driving despite cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
- Driving safety assessment should be integrated into routine dementia evaluations for Alzheimer's disease patients.
- A combination of cognitive and functional measures can identify AD patients at high risk for unsafe driving.
- Early identification of at-risk drivers is crucial for patient and public safety.