Citation

Roe CM, Babulal GM, Head DM, Stout SH, Vernon EK, Ghoshal N, Garland B, Barco PP, Williams MM, Johnson A, Fierberg R, Fague MS, Xiong C, Mormino E, Grant EA, Holtzman DM, Benzinger TLS, Fagan AM, Ott BR, Carr DB, Morris JC. Alzheimers Dement. (N Y) 2017; 3(1): 74-82.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.trci.2016.11.006

PMID

28435853

PMCID

PMC5396459

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Links between preclinical AD and driving difficulty onset would support the use of driving performance as an outcome in primary and secondary prevention trials among older adults (OAs). We examined whether AD biomarkers predicted the onset of driving difficulties among OAs.

METHODS: 104 OAs (65+ years) with normal cognition took part in biomarker measurements, a road test, clinical and psychometric batteries and self-reported their driving habits.

RESULTS: Higher values of CSF tau/Aβ42 and ptau181/Aβ42 ratios, but not uptake on PIB amyloid imaging (p=.12), predicted time to a rating of Marginal or Fail on the driving test using Cox proportional hazards models. Hazards ratios (95% confidence interval) were 5.75 (1.70-19.53), p=.005 for CSF tau/Aβ42; 6.19 (1.75-21.88) and p=.005 for CSF ptau181/Aβ42.

DISCUSSION: Preclinical AD predicted time to receiving a Marginal or Fail rating on an on-road driving test. Driving performance shows promise as a functional outcome in AD prevention trials.

Language: en

Keywords

Alzheimer disease; aged; amyloid imaging; biomarker; cerebrospinal fluid; driving; functional outcome; older adults; preclinical; ptau; road test; tau