Age-Related Diseases and Driving Safety

Overview

Journal Geriatrics (Basel)

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2020 Oct 22

PMID 33086572

Citations 16

Authors

Michael Falkenstein

Melanie Karthaus

Ute Brune-Cohrs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Due to demographic changes, the number of older drivers is steadily increasing. Mobility is highly relevant for leading an independent life in the elderly. It largely depends on car driving, which is a complex task requiring a multitude of cognitive and motor skills vulnerable to age- related functional deterioration. The almost inevitable effects of senescence may be potentiated by age-related diseases, such as stroke or diabetes mellitus. Respective pharmacological treatment may cause side effects, additionally affecting driving safety. The present article reviews the impact of age-related diseases and drug treatment of these conditions on driving fitness in elderly drivers. In essence, we focus on diseases of the visual and auditory systems, diseases of the central nervous system (i.e., stroke, depression, dementia and mild cognitive disorder, and Parkinson's disease), sleep disorders, as well as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal disorders, and frailty. We will outline the role of functional tests and the assessment of driving behavior (by a driving simulator or in real traffic), as well as the clinical interview including questions about frequency of (near) accidents, etc. in the evaluation of driving fitness of the elderly. We also address the impact of polypharmacy on driving fitness and end up with recommendations for physicians caring for older patients.

Citing Articles

Factors associated with post-stroke fatigue among stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study.

Dong Y, Tang L, Badrin S, Badrin S, Wu J PeerJ. 2025; 13:e19052.

PMID: 40061230 PMC: 11890295. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19052.

Simulated driving behavior over the adult age span.

Menze F, Churchill N, Schweizer T, Graham S Front Aging Neurosci. 2025; 17:1496224.

PMID: 40046786 PMC: 11879975. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1496224.

Therapeutic Potential of Microneedle Assisted Drug Delivery for Wound Healing: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspective.

Kumar D, Pandey S, Shiekmydeen J, Kumar M, Chopra S, Bhatia A AAPS PharmSciTech. 2025; 26(1):25.

PMID: 39779610 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-024-03017-z.

Distribution and association of road traffic accident with depression among Indian population aged 45 years and above: nested multilevel modelling analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Halder P, Saha S, Mamgai A, Kolachala A, Chattopadhyay A, Rathor S Discov Ment Health. 2024; 4(1):60.

PMID: 39607564 PMC: 11604859. DOI: 10.1007/s44192-024-00118-w.

Understanding Elderly Drivers' Perception of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: A Systematic Review of Perceived Risks, Trust, Ease of Use, and Usefulness.

Biassoni F, Gnerre M Geriatrics (Basel). 2024; 9(6).

PMID: 39584945 PMC: 11587038. DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9060144.

References

Snowden J, Neary D, Mann D . Frontotemporal dementia. Br J Psychiatry. 2002; 180:140-3. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.180.2.140. View

Brunnauer A, Laux G, David I, Fric M, Hermisson I, Moller H . The impact of reboxetine and mirtazapine on driving simulator performance and psychomotor function in depressed patients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2009; 69(12):1880-6. DOI: 10.4088/jcp.v69n1205. View

Bjork M, Thyberg I, Valtersson E, Ostlund G, Stenstrom B, Sverker A . Foot Barriers in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Interview Study Among Swedish Women and Men. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017; 70(9):1348-1354. DOI: 10.1002/acr.23486. View

Carr D, Duchek J, Morris J . Characteristics of motor vehicle crashes of drivers with dementia of the Alzheimer type. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000; 48(1):18-22. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb03023.x. View

Luppa M, Sikorski C, Luck T, Ehreke L, Konnopka A, Wiese B . Age- and gender-specific prevalence of depression in latest-life--systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2011; 136(3):212-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2010.11.033. View

Fitten L, Perryman K, Wilkinson C, Little R, Burns M, Pachana N . Alzheimer and vascular dementias and driving. A prospective road and laboratory study. JAMA. 1995; 273(17):1360-5. View

Daurat A, Sagaspe P, Motak L, Taillard J, Bayssac L, Huet N . Lorazepam impairs highway driving performance more than heavy alcohol consumption. Accid Anal Prev. 2013; 60:31-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2013.08.004. View

Comijs H, Nieuwesteeg J, Kok R, van Marwijk H, van der Mast R, Naarding P . The two-year course of late-life depression; results from the Netherlands study of depression in older persons. BMC Psychiatry. 2015; 15:20. PMC: 4329675. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0401-5. View

Chihuri S, Li G . Use of prescription opioids and motor vehicle crashes: A meta analysis. Accid Anal Prev. 2017; 109:123-131. DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.10.004. View

10.

Ivers R, Mitchell P, Cumming R . Sensory impairment and driving: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Am J Public Health. 1999; 89(1):85-7. PMC: 1508504. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.89.1.85. View

11.

Cranney A, Harrison A, Ruhland L, Vaidyanath C, Graham I, Man-Son-Hing M . Driving problems in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2005; 32(12):2337-42. View

12.

Leufkens T, Vermeeren A . Zopiclone's residual effects on actual driving performance in a standardized test: a pooled analysis of age and sex effects in 4 placebo-controlled studies. Clin Ther. 2013; 36(1):141-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.11.005. View

13.

Knie B, Mitra M, Logishetty K, Chaudhuri K . Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with Parkinson's disease. CNS Drugs. 2011; 25(3):203-12. DOI: 10.2165/11539720-000000000-00000. View

14.

Nash S, Cruickshanks K, Klein R, Klein B, Nieto F, Huang G . The prevalence of hearing impairment and associated risk factors: the Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011; 137(5):432-9. PMC: 3096733. DOI: 10.1001/archoto.2011.15. View

15.

Veldhuijzen D, van Wijck A, Wille F, Verster J, Kenemans J, Kalkman C . Effect of chronic nonmalignant pain on highway driving performance. Pain. 2006; 122(1-2):28-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.12.019. View

16.

Stoohs R, Guilleminault C, Itoi A, Dement W . Traffic accidents in commercial long-haul truck drivers: the influence of sleep-disordered breathing and obesity. Sleep. 1994; 17(7):619-23. View

17.

Talusan P, Miller C, Save A, Reach Jr J . Driving reaction times in patients with foot and ankle pathology before and after image-guided injection: pain relief without improved function. Foot Ankle Spec. 2014; 8(2):107-11. DOI: 10.1177/1938640014548420. View

18.

Orriols L, Avalos-Fernandez M, Moore N, Philip P, Delorme B, Laumon B . Long-term chronic diseases and crash responsibility: a record linkage study. Accid Anal Prev. 2014; 71:137-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.05.001. View

19.

Huisingh C, McGwin Jr G, Wood J, Owsley C . The driving visual field and a history of motor vehicle collision involvement in older drivers: a population-based examination. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014; 56(1):132-8. PMC: 4288142. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-15194. View

20.

FINDLEY L, Smith C, Hooper J, Dineen M, Suratt P . Treatment with nasal CPAP decreases automobile accidents in patients with sleep apnea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161(3 Pt 1):857-9. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.161.3.9812154. View