White Matter Hyperintensity Burden and Decline in Driving Performance Among Older Adults

White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is associated with cognitive decline, but its association with driving performance among older adults and the associations of modifiable risk factors remain unclear.

To evaluate the association of total and regional WMH burden with longitudinal naturalistic driving performance in cognitively normal older adults and evaluate moderating associations of cognitive decline and antihypertensive therapy.

This prospective longitudinal cohort study enrolled community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) in the Driving Real-World In-Vehicle Evaluation System Project. Baseline 3-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and data from continuous in-vehicle driving monitoring were collected from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2024 (mean [SD] follow-up, 5.6 [1.8] years), with annual cognitive and clinical assessments.

Total and regional WMH volumes, cognitive status change, and antihypertensive medication use.

Monthly driving trip frequency, trip distance, unique destinations, driving entropy, and safety events. Longitudinal associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and vascular risk.

Among 220 participants (mean [SD] age, 72.9 [5.0] years; 119 men [54%]) with low vascular risk (mean [SD] Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, 6.4% [1.3%]), greater baseline WMH burden was correlated with lower driving frequency (β = -0.16; 95% CI, -0.27 to -0.06; P = .002), reduced driving entropy (β = -0.17; 95% CI, -0.27 to -0.06; P = .002), and fewer unique destinations (β = -0.17; 95% CI, -0.27 to -0.07; P = .001). Longitudinally, higher WMH was associated with faster declines in driving frequency (β = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.04; P < .001), entropy (β = -0.11; 95% CI, -0.17 to -0.06; P < .001), and unique destinations (β = -0.09; 95% CI, -0.14 to -0.04; P < .001). Growth in posterior WMH burden showed the strongest association with increased crash risk (β = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.17-2.24; P < .001) among those developing cognitive impairment (38 [17%]). Among participants, 135 used antihypertensive therapy and 113 underwent follow-up MRI. Antihypertensive therapy, particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, was associated with attenuated WMH-related risky driving before adjustment, but not after adjustment (β = -0.17; 95% CI, -0.37 to 0.03; unadjusted P = .02; false discovery rate-adjusted P = .08). Sensitivity analyses confirmed associations were independent of Alzheimer dementia pathology.

In this cohort study of older drivers, higher WMH burden, especially in posterior regions, was associated with progressive driving self-regulation and increased errors in those developing cognitive impairment. Antihypertensive use attenuated WMH-associated unsafe driving. Posterior WMH may represent a biomarker for identifying older drivers at risk and may inform mobility-preserving interventions in aging populations.