The study aims at examining factors associated with driving status and self-reported driving difficulty, with particular attention to vision and cognitive impairment. This study uses cross-sectional data from 421 elderly Latino participants in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) along with cognitive screening, and comparison is by driving status (currently driving, used to drive, never drove) and self-reported difficulty driving among current drivers. Current drivers were more educated and reported better health.Those who never drove were less acculturated. Those who gave up driving had more visual impairment and lower scores on mental status testing. Self-reported difficulties among current drivers were associated with more health problems but not cognitive difficulties. Elderly Latinos have a lower driving rate than the general older population. There are significant differences between older Latinos who continue to drive versus those who never drove or have stopped driving. Poorer cognitive performance and poorer vision are associated with driving cessation. (Author/publisher)
Abstract