This study examined the driving habits and related psychosocial issues of male drivers with Alzheimer's disease (AD). 54 male drivers (aged 60+ years) with dementia and 170 non-demented drivers (average age 65.8 years) completed the Mini-Mental Status Examination and questionnaires concerning driving habits, driving history, changes within the past year, expectations and plans about driving cessation, and demographic characteristics. Family members familiar with subjects' driving reported concerns and perceptions of driving skills. Results show that AD subjects were more likely than controls to have had crashes and to have become lost more frequently on familiar roads while driving. Subjects reported altering their patterns by driving less and reducing rush-hour and night driving. Compared with controls, AD subjects reported that discontinuing driving would cause fewer disruptions to their families. Nearly 60% of subjects felt they would not have to stop driving because of their dementia. (A)
Samenvatting