Conclusions The Timed Up- and -Go test measure appears not to be a useful measure of physical functioning for the driving outcomes included here .
The Rapid Pace Walk may be useful in studies of driving ability and exposure .
Background Improving physical functioning may be a future intervention to keep older adults driving safely longer as it can help maintain both physical and cognitive health longer .
This systematic review assesses the evidence on the association between three physical functioning measures : the Short Physical Performance Battery , the Timed Up- and -Go test , and the Rapid Pace Walk with driving outcomes in older adults .
Predicting road test performance in drivers with dementia.
OBJECTIVES To develop a cognitive and functional screening battery for the on-road performance of older drivers with dementia . DESIGN Prospect i ve observational study . SETTING On-road driving evaluation clinic at an academic rehabilitation center . PARTICIPANTS Ninety-nine older people with dementia ( 63 % male , mean age 74.2 ± 9 ) , referred by community physicians to an occupational therapy driving clinic . MEASUREMENTS The outcome variable was pass or fail on the modified Washington University Road Test . Predictor measures were tests of visual , motor , and cognitive functioning , selected for their empirical or conceptual relationship to the complex task of driving safely . RESULTS Sixty-five ( 65 % ) participants failed the on-road driving test . The best predictive model , with an overall accuracy of up to 85 % when participants were blinded , included the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia , Clock Drawing Test score , and time to complete the Snellgrove Maze Test or Trail Making Test Part A. Visual and motor functioning were not associated with road test failure . CONCLUSION A screening battery that could be performed in less than 10 minutes predicted with good accuracy failure rate for the on-road driving test in this sample of older drivers with dementia . A probability of failure calculator is provided from a logistic regression model that may be useful for clinicians in their decision to refer impaired older adults for further testing . More studies are needed in larger community-based sample s , along with discussion s with patients , families , and clinicians , with regard to acceptable levels of test uncertainty
Conclusions The Timed Up- and -Go test measure appears not to be a useful measure of physical functioning for the driving outcomes included here .
The Rapid Pace Walk may be useful in studies of driving ability and exposure .
Background Improving physical functioning may be a future intervention to keep older adults driving safely longer as it can help maintain both physical and cognitive health longer .
This systematic review assesses the evidence on the association between three physical functioning measures : the Short Physical Performance Battery , the Timed Up- and -Go test , and the Rapid Pace Walk with driving outcomes in older adults .