Our brain changes as we age, natural and foreseen changes in the structure of the brain, in the blood supply, and in the neuron function affecting various cognitive functions, from memory to processing speed. In addition, from age 60 the risk of developing diseases such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia and Alzheimer’s which impair memory, thinking, and judgment increases. The natural changes we experience, along with the risk of cognitive diseases, may raise concerns about daily activities, especially those that require quick thinking and sharp focus, such as driving.
When we grow older, it is natural to notice changes in our brain function, and age-related cognitive decline may manifest itself in different ways. Changes in memory abilities may appear, for example difficulty in recalling familiar information or slower retrieval from memory. There may be an effect on our attention, for example the ability to maintain vigilance when we focus on something. These cognitive abilities are significantly related to our driving skills. Attention is related to a quick perception of our environment, executive functions are related to our ability to make quick and accurate decisions, visual-spatial skills are related to the ability to correctly estimate the distances of vehicles and pedestrians around us and to maneuver around them, and memory allows us to plan a travel route and recognize traffic signs. These changes can make it difficult to drive on the road, make it difficult to react quickly to dangers, or to have adapted reactions behind the wheel. For example, in more advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the cognitive impairments make it impossible to continue driving since they pose a risk to the driver and other road users.
Due to these changes, along with physiological changes associated with aging, such as joint stiffness, muscle weakness, vision deterioration, or medication side effects, many drivers over the age of 65 may notice difficulty driving as easily and safely as they are used to. Older drivers are involved in more accidents relative to their driving times compared to adults aged 25-65, and are at a higher risk of being seriously injured in such accidents.
Proactive inspections are the key to road safety. Schedule regular check-ups with your doctor, in order to monitor your health and identify potential problems at an early stage, both physiological and cognitive. If concerns arise, a doctor may recommend additional tests or suggest adjustments in driving habits. In addition, it is important to pay attention to changes in behavior behind the wheel. Open communication and cooperation with family and friends can go a long way in promoting the safety of you and others on the road.
Beyond medical monitoring, an independent proactive approach can be taken to support safe driving. Exercise and an active lifestyle help maintain our strength and flexibility, and are important for maintaining driving abilities over time. Physical weakness and limited mobility can make it difficult to make quick reactions in braking and navigating the steering wheel, and our range of vision to identify obstacles and dangers. Maintaining fitness and mobility can be very helpful in maintaining driving abilities and independence over time. In addition to maintaining a healthy and active body, it is also possible to combine cognitive training. As mentioned, driving is a complex action that requires the integration of a lot of information from the environment and quick decision-making.
Cognitive abilities are critical to our ability to drive safely for ourselves and those around us. Personalized computerized cognitive training enables the improvement of a variety of cognitive indices. Studies that examined the effect of cognitive training on driving in adults reached interesting findings: they found that training related to processing speed resulted in lower rates of involvement in accidents for about 6 years after the training period compared to people who did not train. In addition, among drivers who experienced this type of training, a smaller number stopped driving over time compared to drivers who did not train. This means that older drivers who incorporate cognitive training into their daily routine maintain driving skills for a longer period of time and drive safer than adults who do not incorporate cognitive training.
Effectivate’s training software uses a unique algorithm that adapts the training program to your personal performance, and ensures that it will continue to challenge you over time to achieve optimal results. The activities vary, work on different cognitive abilities, and are based on research. Some of the activities are specially adapted to improve driving skills and related abilities: for example, the dual focus exercise trains executive attention and spatial attention, and is designed to train the expansion of the attention field, and improve the ability to recognize important things even at the edges of our field of vision. Another exercise that is integrated into the training program, Grandma on Wheels, is designed to impart more effective strategies for remembering driving and navigation instructions.
Driving a car allows us a lot of independence, but many factors affect our ability to do so safely. It is important to be aware of factors that may affect our driving abilities as we age, and to monitor our physical health, hearing and vision, and cognitive function. Maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle, and cognitive health will help us maintain independence and road safety over time.
The article is by Maya Vinik, graduate of a master’s degree in cognitive psychology and a member of the scientific team at Effectivate.
