title: Exercise can improve speed of behavior in older drivers.
abstract: The main aim of this research was to study the effects of a specific exercise program on the speed of behavior of older adults during on-the-road driving. Twenty-six drivers (55-78 yr old) were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. The exercise program (3 sessions of 60 min/wk for 8 wk) incorporated tasks that induced the participants to respond quickly to challenging situations. On-the-road driving tasks (under single- and dual-task conditions) included measures of simple and choice reaction time, movement time, and response time. Significant positive effects were found at follow-up resulting from participation in the exercise program: Improvements were found for several measures in all driving tasks, and a composite score reflected a better general drivers' speed of behavior. These results show that exercise can enhance speed of behavior in older drivers and should therefore be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Sport and Health, and Tlemcani, the Geophysics Center, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Filipe Marmeleira
authors.forename: Filipe Manuel
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Soares de Melo
authors.forename: Mouhaydine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tlemcani
authors.forename: Mária Adriano Bandeira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Godinho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time