Colette Fabrigoule

Gender effect on driving cessation in pre-dementia and dementia phases: results of the 3C population-based study

Aging entails deterioration in sensory, physical, and cognitive functions, raising doubt in the driving capacity of older drivers, especially when the deficits are severe, as in dementia. Many older drivers, especially women, adapt their driving habits in order to compensate for these deficits and eventually stop driving. The present prospective study assessed driving cessation in men and women throughout the dementia process, including a 2‐year pre‐dementia phase.

Naturalistic Driving Study Investigating Self-Regulation Behavior in Early Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUNDnBecause cognitive processes decline in the earliest stages of Alzheimers disease (AD), the driving abilities are often affected. The naturalistic driving approach is relevant to study the driving habits and behaviors in normal or critical situations in a familiar environment of participants.nnnOBJECTIVEnThis pilot study analyzed in-car video recordings of naturalistic driving in patients with early-stage AD and in healthy controls, with a special focus on tactical self-regulation behavior.nnnMETHODSnTwenty patients with early-stage AD (Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition [DSM-IV] criteria), and 21 healthy older adults were included in the study. Data collection equipment was installed in their personal vehicles. Two expert psychologists assessed driving performance using a specially designed Naturalistic Driving Assessment Scale (NaDAS), paying particular attention to tactical self-regulation behavior, and they recorded all critical safety events.nnnRESULTSnPoorer driving performance was observed among AD drivers: their tactical self-regulation behavior was of lower quality. AD patients had also twice as many critical events as healthy drivers and three times more unaware critical events.nnnCONCLUSIONnThis pilot study used a naturalistic approach to accurately show that AD drivers have poorer tactical self-regulation behavior than healthy older drivers. Future deployment of assistance systems in vehicles should specifically target tactical self-regulation components.

Aging without Dementia

Aging without dementia is a matter of public health as well as a consequence of individual behaviors. These results suggest that increasing educational level, encouraging regular involvement in social and leisure activities, facilitating equal access to health care, and promoting a diet rich in fish and antioxidants such as fruit, vegetables, and tea could contribute to healthy cognitive aging. The impact of specific interventions still has to be evaluated. Further research is needed to identify groups of subjects who could most effectively benefit from such interventions.