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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 764-768 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry |
Volume | 76 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health