Muscle strength, postural balance, and cognition are associated with braking time during driving in older adults.
Despite the well-known declines in driving performance with advancing age, there is little understanding of the specific factors that predict changes in key determinants such as braking time.



The aims of this study were to determine the extent to which age, muscle strength, cognition and postural balance are associated with braking performance in middle-aged and older adults.



Male and female middle-aged adults (n=62, age=39.3±7.1years) and older adults (n=102, age=70.4±5.8years) were evaluated for braking performance, as well as in several motor and cognitive performance tasks. The motor evaluation included isokinetic ankle plantar flexor muscle strength, handgrip strength, and postural balance with and without a cognitive task. The cognitive assessment included the Mini Mental State Examination. Braking performance was measured using a driving simulator.



Older adults exhibited 17% slower braking time, lower strength, and poorer performance in the postural balance (p<0.001). For both older and middle-aged adults, significant correlates of braking time included performance in the postural balance tests, muscle strength, and cognitive function. However, after full model adjustment, only postural balance and cognitive function were significantly associated.



Muscle strength, postural balance, and cognition are associated with braking time, and may affect the safety of and driving performance in older adults. These findings may help to inform specific targeted interventions that could preserve driving performance during aging.
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aging Science, São Judas Tadeu University (USJT), São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: angelicacastilho@msn.com.
Angelica C
AC
Alonso
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, USA.
Mark D
MD
Peterson
Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Alexandre L
AL
Busse
Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Wilson
W
Jacob-Filho
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Mauricio T A
MTA
Borges
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcos M
MM
Serra
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aging Science, São Judas Tadeu University (USJT), São Paulo, Brazil.
Natalia M S
NMS
Luna
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Graduate Program in Science of Human Movement, College of Health Science (FACIS), Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Paulo H
PH
Marchetti
Laboratory for the Study of Movement, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Júlia M D A
JMDA
Greve
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001938:Brazil; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D004856:Postural Balance; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
Aging; Braking time; Motor control; Muscle strength; Postural balance