title: Leukoaraiosis significantly worsens driving performance of ordinary older drivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leukoaraiosis is defined as extracellular space caused mainly by atherosclerotic or demyelinated changes in the brain tissue and is commonly found in the brains of healthy older people. A significant association between leukoaraiosis and traffic crashes was reported in our previous study; however, the reason for this is still unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of driving performance in ordinary older drivers with leukoaraiosis. First, the degree of leukoaraiosis was examined in 33 participants, who underwent an actual-vehicle driving examination on a standard driving course, and a driver skill rating was also collected while the driver carried out a paced auditory serial addition test, which is a calculating task given verbally. At the same time, a steering entropy method was used to estimate steering operation performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental results indicated that a normal older driver with leukoaraiosis was readily affected by external disturbances and made more operation errors and steered less smoothly than one without leukoaraiosis during driving; at the same time, their steering skill significantly deteriorated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leukoaraiosis worsens the driving performance of older drivers because of their increased vulnerability to distraction.
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Traffic Medicine Laboratory, Research Organization for Regional Alliances, Kochi University of Technology, Kami-shi, Kochi, Japan; The Brain Checkup Center, Kochi Kenshin Clinic, Kochi-shi, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaechang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Rencheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohori
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Regional ITS Research Laboratory, Research Organization for Regional Alliances, Kochi University of Technology, Kami-shi, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teramura
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irimajiri
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taoka
authors.affiliation: Driver's License Center, Kochi Prefectural Police Department, Ino-cho, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049292:Leukoaraiosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult