Driver landmark and traffic sign identification in early Alzheimer's disease. Issue 6 (16th May 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Uc, E Y; Rizzo, M; Anderson, S W; Shi, Q; Dawson, J D
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 76:Issue 6(2005)
• Page Start: 764
• Page End: 768
• Publication Date: 2005-05-16
• Subjects: ARGOS, Automobile for Research in Ergonomics and Safety -- AVLT-recall, auditory verbal learning test–recall -- Blocks, block design subtest -- BVRT, Benton visual retention test -- CFT-copy, complex figure test–copy -- CFT-recall, complex figure test–recall -- Cogstat, composite measure of cognitive impairment -- COWA, controlled oral word association -- CS, contrast sensitivity -- FVA, far visual acuity -- JLO, judgment of line orientation -- LTIT, landmark and traffic sign identification task -- MMSE, mini-mental state examination -- NINCDS–ADRDA, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke–Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association -- NVA, near visual acuity -- SFM, structure from motion -- TMT-B, trail making test subtest B -- UFOVTOT, total of subtests of the useful field of view task; Alzheimer's disease -- landmark and traffic sign identification; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.049338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To assess visual search and recognition of roadside targets and safety errors during a landmark and traffic sign identification task in drivers with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: 33 drivers with probable Alzheimer's disease of mild severity and 137 neurologically normal older adults underwent a battery of visual and cognitive tests and were asked to report detection of specific landmarks and traffic signs along a segment of an experimental drive. Results: The drivers with mild Alzheimer's disease identified significantly fewer landmarks and traffic signs and made more at-fault safety errors during the task than control subjects. Roadside target identification performance and safety errors were predicted by scores on standardised tests of visual and cognitive function. Conclusions: Drivers with Alzheimer's disease are impaired in a task of visual search and recognition of roadside targets; the demands of these targets on visual perception, attention, executive functions, and memory probably increase the cognitive load, worsening driving safety.