BACKGROUND: Several small studies have found a high automobile crash rate for drivers with Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with unaffected elderly drivers, prompting the suggestion that the diagnosis of AD mandate cessation of driving. OBJECTIVES: To compare automobile crash and violation rates of a large number of patients with AD with appropriately matched elderly subjects. To determine if neuropsychological test scores predict these adverse driving events. To determine if intervention by physicians or family members influences driving cessation. DESIGN: Review of crashes and violations from 1986 to 1993 in police-filed Michigan State driving records of 143 licensed patients with AD and 715 licensed comparison subjects matched 5 to 1 in age (+/- 6 years), sex, and county of residence. We correlated crashes and violations with neuropsychological test scores. A questionnaire-based inquiry on the influence of physician, family, and state interventions on driving cessation was administered. RESULTS: The crash and violation rates of patients with AD were not significantly different from those of comparison subjects. However, patients with AD probably drove fewer kilometers than did comparison subjects. Neuropsychological test scores did not predict future crashes or violations. CONCLUSIONS: This study, the largest to our knowledge involving state driving records of patients with AD, does not confirm the previously reported excessive crash rate among drivers with AD relative to an appropriate comparison population. Reduced driving exposure of patients with AD probably kept their crash adverse equal to that of comparison subjects. Intervention by physicians and family members was major factor in reducing driving exposure. These findings affirm that the mere diagnosis of AD does not justify license revocation.
BACKGROUND: Several small studies have found a high automobile crash rate for drivers with Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with unaffected elderly drivers, prompting the suggestion that the diagnosis of AD mandate cessation of driving. OBJECTIVES: To compare automobile crash and violation rates of a large number of patients with AD with appropriately matched elderly subjects. To determine if neuropsychological test scores predict these adverse driving events. To determine if intervention by physicians or family members influences driving cessation. DESIGN: Review of crashes and violations from 1986 to 1993 in police-filed Michigan State driving records of 143 licensed patients with AD and 715 licensed comparison subjects matched 5 to 1 in age (+/- 6 years), sex, and county of residence. We correlated crashes and violations with neuropsychological test scores. A questionnaire-based inquiry on the influence of physician, family, and state interventions on driving cessation was administered. RESULTS: The crash and violation rates of patients with AD were not significantly different from those of comparison subjects. However, patients with AD probably drove fewer kilometers than did comparison subjects. Neuropsychological test scores did not predict future crashes or violations. CONCLUSIONS: This study, the largest to our knowledge involving state driving records of patients with AD, does not confirm the previously reported excessive crash rate among drivers with AD relative to an appropriate comparison population. Reduced driving exposure of patients with AD probably kept their crash adverse equal to that of comparison subjects. Intervention by physicians and family members was major factor in reducing driving exposure. These findings affirm that the mere diagnosis of AD does not justify license revocation.
Authors: B R Ott; W C Heindel; W M Whelihan; M D Caron; A L Piatt; R B Noto Journal: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord Date: 2000 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.959
Authors: Brian R Ott; William C Heindel; William M Whelihan; Mark D Caron; Andrea L Piatt; Margaret A DiCarlo Journal: J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 2.680
Authors: Joseph Barrash; Ashley Stillman; Steven W Anderson; Ergun Y Uc; Jeffrey D Dawson; Matthew Rizzo Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 2.892
Authors: Laura B Brown; Brian R Ott; George D Papandonatos; Yunxia Sui; Rebecca E Ready; John C Morris Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Laura B Brown; Robert A Stern; Deborah A Cahn-Weiner; Brooke Rogers; Melissa A Messer; Margaret C Lannon; Charleen Maxwell; Timothy Souza; Travis White; Brian R Ott Journal: Arch Clin Neuropsychol Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 2.813