Citation

Lafont S, Marin-Lamellet C, Paire-Ficout L, Thomas-Anterion C, Laurent B, Fabrigoule C. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 2010; 29(2): 154-163.

Affiliation

UMR T9405 (INRETS/Université de Lyon - Lyon 1/Institut de Veille Sanitaire), Bron, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000264631

PMID

20150734

Abstract

Aims: Our purpose was to identify cognitive tools associated with unsafe driving among elderly drivers of varying cognitive levels. Methods: Twenty drivers with early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer type and 56 nondemented drivers aged 65-85 were recruited. Various cognitive processes were measured and unsafe driving was evaluated during an in-traffic road test with 3 different indicators and a composite indicator. Results: The Wechsler Digit Symbol Substitution Test score was the best cognitive measure to detect unsafe drivers using the composite driving indicator. Conclusion: The Digit Symbol Substitution Test may be used by physicians for the evaluation and follow-up of older patients, with or without Alzheimer-type dementia, as a screening tool of unsafe driving.

Language: en