Association between Sarcopenia, Its Defining Indices, and Driving Cessation in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Geriatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Maintaining driving ability is crucial for older adults' independence and quality of life.
• Age-related decline in physical function can compromise safe driving.
• Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass loss and weakness, is prevalent in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sarcopenia and driving cessation in community-dwelling older adults.
• To determine if components of sarcopenia (muscle mass, strength, gait speed) predict driving cessation.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study with 2,874 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 71.0 years).
• Sarcopenia assessed using EWGSOP2 criteria (muscle mass, strength, gait speed).
• Driving status evaluated at baseline and ~15-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 2.2% (confirmed) and 0.8% (severe) of participants.
• Low muscle strength and low muscle mass were significantly associated with driving cessation.
• Sarcopenia (confirmed and severe) showed a four-fold increased odds of driving cessation (ORs ~4.4-4.5).
• Slow gait speed was not significantly associated with driving cessation.

Conclusions:

• Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of driving cessation in older adults.
• Physical function assessment, particularly for sarcopenia, is valuable for evaluating driving safety in the elderly.
• Interventions targeting sarcopenia may help older adults maintain driving independence.