Driving practice effects for older drivers with mild cognitive impairment: A preliminary study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Traffic Safety

Background:

• Older drivers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) frequently exhibit diminished driving performance.
• Limited evidence exists on the potential for practice-based improvement in driving skills among this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of practice on the driving performance of older drivers with MCI versus those with normal cognition (NC).
• To evaluate driving skills in an unfamiliar, standardized course across three practice sessions.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, two-group observational study involving 12 drivers with MCI and 10 NC drivers (all ≥ 55 years old).
• Driving practice involved a complex maneuver assessed via an in-car GPS mobile application for speed and directional control.
• Secondary outcomes included pass/fail rates and observed mistakes during the final practice session; no instructions were provided during practice.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed between the MCI and NC groups regarding pass/fail rates or the number of mistakes.
• Some drivers with MCI demonstrated enhanced speed and directional control in the S-Bend maneuver following practice sessions.

Conclusions:

• Driving performance in older drivers with MCI may show improvement through practice.
• Older drivers diagnosed with MCI could potentially benefit from targeted driver retraining programs.