Researchers find out what health problems cause older people to stop driving

Even minor changes in the ability to remember, think, and judge can force older people to stop driving, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology.

Brain testing, particularly screening aimed at detecting the earliest and barely noticeable impairments, can help older people make safe driving decisions while maintaining their independence, the study concluded.

During the research, scientists monitored 283 people aged 72 who sat behind the wheel of a car at least once a week and had no cognitive disorders at the initial stage.

According to the researchers, the participants underwent brain testing every year for an average of six years. They also underwent brain scans and bone marrow biopsy every two to three years to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

As per the researchers, during the study, 24 participants stopped driving, 15 people died, and 46 people developed cognitive disorders.

The researchers found that those who refused to drive during the study were influenced by three factors: symptoms of cognitive impairment, poorer screening results for Alzheimer's disease, and the fact that they were women.

According to the results of the research, women gave up driving four times more often than men.

Declining cognitive function predicts older people's decision to stop driving, even more than age or physical changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found.

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