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Driver landmark and traffic sign identification in early Alzheimer’s disease
  1. E Y Uc1,
  2. M Rizzo2,
  3. S W Anderson1,
  4. Q Shi3,
  5. J D Dawson3
  1. 1Division of Neuroergonomics, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
  2. 2Division of Neuroergonomics, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  3. 3Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Ergun Y Uc
 Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; ergun-ucuiowa.edu

Abstract

Objective: To assess visual search and recognition of roadside targets and safety errors during a landmark and traffic sign identification task in drivers with Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods: 33 drivers with probable Alzheimer’s disease of mild severity and 137 neurologically normal older adults underwent a battery of visual and cognitive tests and were asked to report detection of specific landmarks and traffic signs along a segment of an experimental drive.

Results: The drivers with mild Alzheimer’s disease identified significantly fewer landmarks and traffic signs and made more at-fault safety errors during the task than control subjects. Roadside target identification performance and safety errors were predicted by scores on standardised tests of visual and cognitive function.

Conclusions: Drivers with Alzheimer’s disease are impaired in a task of visual search and recognition of roadside targets; the demands of these targets on visual perception, attention, executive functions, and memory probably increase the cognitive load, worsening driving safety.

  • ARGOS, Automobile for Research in Ergonomics and Safety
  • AVLT-recall, auditory verbal learning test–recall
  • Blocks, block design subtest
  • BVRT, Benton visual retention test
  • CFT-copy, complex figure test–copy
  • CFT-recall, complex figure test–recall
  • Cogstat, composite measure of cognitive impairment
  • COWA, controlled oral word association
  • CS, contrast sensitivity
  • FVA, far visual acuity
  • JLO, judgment of line orientation
  • LTIT, landmark and traffic sign identification task
  • MMSE, mini-mental state examination
  • NINCDS–ADRDA, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke–Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association
  • NVA, near visual acuity
  • SFM, structure from motion
  • TMT-B, trail making test subtest B
  • UFOVTOT, total of subtests of the useful field of view task
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • landmark and traffic sign identification

https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2004.049338

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests: none declared