More mad and more wise

It is clearly important that clinicians have appropriate assessment and management pathways when working in clinical settings where illnesses associated with cognitive impairment may impair both mobility and safety, such as memory clinics and medical services dealing with older people. However, in wider terms, particularly in terms of an understanding of the impact of cognitive function on the whole population of older drivers, it is critical that debate on cognitive function and driving is adequately informed by the sciences of gerontology and public health, embraces a broad definition of cognitive function which recognizes both the gains and losses of ageing, recognizes the barriers and disruptive influences which may skew scientific debate, and frames such a discourse in terms of an appropriate balance between mobility and safety.