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Driving-Related Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Pharmacologically Treated Cardiovascular Disease

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine if older drivers with pharmacologically treated hypertension and/or heart disease demonstrate impaired performance on established driving related cognitive measures. Data regarding self-reported demographic variables (i.e., age, sex, race, income, mental and physical health diagnoses, and prescription drug use) and performance on driving-related measures of cognitive function (i.e., Trail Making Test B; and Useful Field of View (UFOV® subtest 2) were gathered from 865 licensed drivers. No group cognitive performance differences were found among the treated hypertensives and the healthy control group, thus underscoring the importance of effective hypertension management. However, older adults with pharmacologically treated heart disease demonstrated poorer performance than older adults without heart disease on Trails B and UFOV® subtest 2. Although it is generally agreed that assessment and early intervention with regard to heart disease risk factors (i.e., cholesterol, tobacco smoking, obesity, etc.) beneficially affect physical health, the current results also indicate that addressing such risk factors prior to the development of heart disease may benefit cognitive function, as well.

Source: Clinical Gerontologist

DOI: 10.1080/07317110903552180

Authors: Sarah Viamonte, David Vance, Virginia Wadley, Dan Roenker, Karlene Ball

Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Western Kentucky University

Language: English

Topic: Older Adults Driving Studies

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging