title: The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability in dementia: a meta-analysis.
abstract: A meta-analysis of 27 primary studies was conducted to examine the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability for adults with dementia. When studies using a control group were included, the relationship between cognitive measures and on-road or non-road driving measures was significant for all reported domains; mean correlations ranged from.35 to.65. Caregiver reports of driving ability and cognitive variables were correlated significantly only on measures of mental status and visuospatial skills. When studies using a control group were excluded, moderate mean correlations were observed for visuospatial skills and on-road or non-road measures, and for mental status with non-road tests. Other effects were small or nonsignificant. Implications for basing driving recommendations on neuropsychological testing are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, WA, USA. mreger@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reger
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: G Stennis
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Brenna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cholerton
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Craft
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001076:Aptitude / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D016743:Mental Competency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance