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Pharmacopsychiatry 2017; 50(05): 197-202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-109560
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Driving Problems in the Elderly and Cognitively Impaired

Robert Haussmann
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Maria Buthut
2   Department of Neurology, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Markus Donix
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
3   DZNE, German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 February 2017
revised 13 April 2017

accepted 18 April 2017

Publication Date:
18 May 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Driving ability in the elderly and cognitively impaired is of growing demographic relevance. Driving represents a complex task for which multiple central resources are needed. In mild cognitive impairment and dementia, we need to closely monitor driving ability, as it gets irrecoverably lost in the course of the disease. In normal aging, people are often able to self-regulate driving behavior with respect to their medical conditions. Some studies demonstrated that older drivers perform well compared with younger drivers. Others suggest a decline of driving ability in the process of normal aging and an increasing involvement of older drivers in car crashes. However, these findings have been questioned because of several possible biases. Therefore, unnecessary driving restrictions need to be avoided. The reliable evaluation of driving ability requires a specialist assessment with detailed neurocognitive evaluation, investigation of medical history and medical history by proxy, as well as on-the-the-road tests. Highlighting current knowledge in this field, we would like to increase our readers’ awareness for the complexity of driving-associated challenges in an aging population.

Key words

driving ability - dementia - mild cognitive impairment - driving assessment
 

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