Why and how evaluating driving abilities in patients with neurodegenerative diseases?

Chloé Lazeras, Mégane Cartier, Marie Bonnet, Brice Laurens, Wassilios G. Meissner, Vincent Planche
Gériatrie et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie du Viellissement. 2021-06-01; 19(2): 191-201
DOI: 10.1684/pnv.2021.0933

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Article in French

Lazeras C(1), Cartier M(1), Bonnet M(2), Laurens B(2), Meissner WG(3), Planche V(4).

Author information:
(1)Centre mémoire de ressources et de recherches, Pôle de neurosciences
cliniques, CHU de Bordeaux, France.
(2)Centre mémoire de ressources et de recherches, Pôle de neurosciences
cliniques, CHU de Bordeaux, France, Centre expert Parkinson, Pôle de
neurosciences cliniques, CHU de Bordeaux, France.
(3)Centre expert Parkinson, Pôle de neurosciences cliniques, CHU de Bordeaux,
France, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, UMR 5293, Institut des maladies
neurodégénératives, France.
(4)Centre mémoire de ressources et de recherches, Pôle de neurosciences
cliniques, CHU de Bordeaux, France, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, UMR 5293,
Institut des maladies neurodégénératives, France.

Many studies have shown that individuals with neurodegenerative diseases are a
risk factor for being involved in a traffic accident. However, driving is
critical for social integration and independence in daily life. Lack of consensus
and standardized assessment of driving abilities in these patients is
problematic. This article summarizes the various multidisciplinary evaluations
proposed, their limits, and the societal issues raised by such an evaluation.
Several neuropsychological theoretical models have attempted to describe the
cognitive processes involved in car driving. Moreover, several studies have
sought to determine which cognitive functions are impaired in distinct disorders
and best explained driving errors. We here describe the relationships between
neuropsychological performance and driving abilities for the most frequent
neurodegenerative disorders. It appears that a full neuropsychological assessment
is necessary to determine accurately which patients are at risk of dangerous
driving. In particular, cognitive impairments in attention, visual-spatial
abilities, executive functions, and/or information processing speed appear to be
the most likely involved in driving errors.

 

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