title: The impact of cognitive deficit on self-reported car crashes in ultra-octogenarian population: data of an Italian population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the usefulness of specific neurocognitive tests for predicting the crash involvement in ultra-octogenarian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 800 subjects (mean age 82.4 + 3.1 years) underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. Global intellectual functioning was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination, mental flexibility and information processing speed were assessed using the Trail Making Test parts A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B), long-term memory was evaluated with the short story, and visuo-spatial skills were tested with Clock Drawing Test. One year after this evaluation, 343 (43%) participants have been interviewed by a telephone call to know if they were currently driving and if they had a car crash during this period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred ninety-seven subjects had their driving license renewed and completed the follow-up 1 year after. Data shows that less than 11% of this group had a car crash during the first year of observation (Crash Involved). Older subjects involved in a car crash showed significant worse performances on TMT-B (TMT-B pathological Crash Involved vs. Noncrash Involved 47% vs. 27%; p = 0.02) and on short story (short story pathological Crash Involved vs. Noncrash Involved 19% vs. 5%; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trail Making test B and short story have been demonstrated to provide a predictive value of driving performance of older people. Therefore, we suggest that a simple and standardized battery of neuropsychological tests, lasting about 30 min and administered by an experienced staff, is a good diagnostic instrument for risk prevention of driving activity of older drivers.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. lrozzini@iol.it
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Rozzini
authors: Maddalena
authors: M
authors: Riva
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Zanetti
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Gottardi
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Caratozzolo
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Vicini Chilovi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Trabucchi
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Padovani
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D057566:Self Report; D014145:Trail Making Test