Subtle changes in everyday driving habits could serve as a crucial early indicator of dementia, according to a significant new study. Researchers have discovered that monitoring how older adults drive provides a more accurate prediction of cognitive decline than traditional methods like memory tests alone.
How Driving Reveals Cognitive Changes
The study, published in the journal Neurology, followed 298 participants with an average age of 75 for more than three years. Of these, 56 individuals had mild cognitive impairment, a known precursor to Alzheimer's disease, while the remaining 242 were cognitively healthy.
All volunteers, who drove at least once a week, had GPS data tracking devices installed in their cars. Over time, a clear pattern emerged. Those with mild cognitive impairment began to drive less frequently, particularly avoiding journeys after dark. They also showed a tendency to stick to familiar routes, reducing the variety of their destinations.
GPS Outperforms Traditional Assessments
The research team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that analysing driving data was remarkably effective. By examining factors such as journey distances, speeding frequency, and route variation, they could predict the development of mild cognitive impairment with 82% accuracy.
This accuracy jumped to an impressive 87% when driving data was combined with other factors like age, cognitive test scores, and the presence of Alzheimer's-associated genes. In contrast, using all those non-driving factors alone achieved only 76% accuracy.
Lead researcher Professor Ganesh Babulal explained the significance: "Early identification of older drivers who are at risk for accidents is a public health priority, but identifying people who are unsafe is challenging and time-consuming. We found that using a GPS data tracking device, we could more accurately determine who had developed cognitive issues."
Towards Safer Roads and Earlier Intervention
The findings suggest a practical and unobtrusive method for monitoring cognitive health. Observing driving behaviour could flag potential issues long before a serious incident occurs on the road.
Professor Babulal emphasised the potential benefits: "Looking at people's daily driving behaviour is a relatively low-burden way to monitor people's cognitive skills. This could help identify drivers who are at risk earlier for early intervention, before they have a crash or near miss, which is often what happens now."
He also stressed the importance of balancing this innovation with ethical considerations, noting the need to respect autonomy, privacy, and informed decision-making.
This research opens a new avenue for proactive health monitoring, potentially allowing individuals and families to address cognitive changes at their earliest stages while enhancing road safety for everyone.
