Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (May 2014)

The Drive-Wise Project: Driving Simulator Training increases real driving performance in healthy older drivers

  • Gianclaudio eCasutt,
  • Gianclaudio eCasutt,
  • Gianclaudio eCasutt,
  • Nathan eTheill,
  • Mike eMartin,
  • Mike eMartin,
  • Martin eKeller,
  • Martin eKeller,
  • Lutz eJäncke,
  • Lutz eJäncke,
  • Lutz eJäncke,
  • Lutz eJäncke

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00085
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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Background: Age-related cognitive decline is often associated with unsafe driving behavior. We hypothesized that 10 active training sessions in a driving simulator increase cognitive and on-road driving performance. In addition, driving simulator training should outperform cognitive training.Methods: Ninety-one healthy active drivers (62 – 87 years) were randomly assigned to either (1) a driving simulator training group, (2) an attention training group (vigilance and selective attention), or (3) a control group. The main outcome variables were on-road driving and cognitive performance. Seventy-seven participants (85%) completed the training and were included in the analyses. Training gains were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis with planned comparisons.Results: The driving simulator training group showed an improvement in on-road driving performance compared to the attention training group. In addition, both training groups increased cognitive performance compared to the control group. Conclusion: Driving simulator training offers the potential to enhance driving skills in older drivers. Compared to the attention training, the simulator training seems to be a more powerful program for increasing older drivers’ safety on the road.

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