Florida study finds driving behavior may be an early warning sign of dementia
The personal and family struggle over when to stop driving is increasingly common in Florida amid the highest number of senior drivers ever recorded in the United States. A decision to take away car keys or give them up often comes after an accident or driving scare — typically when Alzheimer’s disease is further advanced. Yet more subtle changes in how people drive may be early warning signs not to be ignored.
New evidence in a study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Central Florida found that changes in driving behavior can act as biomarkers indicating a decline in mental clarity that pre-dates major signs of dementia.
The three-year FAU/UCF study of 450 seniors in South and Central Florida found that drivers with mild cognitive decline exhibited less control of the gas pedal, took shorter or more fragmented trips, engaged in frequent hard braking, and drove lower average speeds. Overall, drivers with mild cognitive decline were less confident and less responsive on the road than those without it.