Citation

Ott BR, Heindel WC, Whelihan WM, Caron MD, Piatt AL, Noto RB. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 2000; 11(3): 153-160.

Affiliation

Brown University School of Medicine and Neurology Division at Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Karger Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10765046

PMCID

PMC3292192

Abstract

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used in this study to examine the neurophysiologic basis of driving impairment in 79 subjects with dementia. Driving impairment, as measured by caregiver ratings, was significantly related to regional reduction of right hemisphere cortical perfusion on SPECT, particularly in the temporo-occipital area. With increased severity of driving impairment, frontal cortical perfusion was also reduced. Clock drawing was more significantly related to driving impairment than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Driving impairment in Alzheimer's disease is related to changes in cortical function which vary according to the severity of the disease. Cognitive tests of visuoperceptual and executive functions may be more useful screening tools for identifying those at greatest risk for driving problems than examinations like the MMSE that are weighted toward left-hemisphere-based verbal tasks.

Language: en