TitleThe Impact of Three Cognitive Training Programs on Driving Cessation Across 10 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsRoss, LA, Freed, SA, Edwards, JD, Phillips, CB, Ball, K
JournalGerontologist
Volume57
Issue5
Pagination838-846
Date Published2017 Oct 01
ISSN1758-5341
KeywordsAged, Automobile Driving, Cognition, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Female, Humans, Learning, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Proportional Hazards Models
Abstract

<p><b>PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: </b>Driving is important for older adults' health and well-being, yet little research has examined interventions to maintain driving mobility. As fluid cognitive abilities are strongly linked to driving, targeted cognitive training interventions may impact driving mobility longitudinally. This study assessed the effects of three different cognitive training programs (reasoning, speed of processing, and memory) on driving cessation in older adults across 10 years (n = 2,390).</p><p><b>DESIGN AND METHODS: </b>Cox regression analyses evaluated the impact of each program relative to a no-contact control group with intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses. The effects of randomization to additional booster sessions were also examined. Subsample analyses repeated these models in participants who were at-risk for driving mobility declines.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>There were no training (n = 2,390) or booster training (n = 1,540) effects on driving cessation with ITT analyses. Individuals at-risk for future mobility declines were 49% (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28, 0.94; n = 336) less likely to cease driving after speed of processing training and 55% (HR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.86; n = 324) less likely to quit driving subsequent to reasoning training. Additional booster sessions for speed of processing training resulted in a 70% reduction of driving cessation (HR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.82; n = 252) in the subsample analyses. There were no significant effects of memory training.</p><p><b>IMPLICATIONS: </b>Some cognitive interventions transfer to maintained driving among those at-risk for mobility declines due to cognitive impairment. Future research should identify moderators and mediators of training and transfer effects.</p>

DOI10.1093/geront/gnw143
Alternate JournalGerontologist
PubMed ID28329859
PubMed Central IDPMC5881723
Grant ListU01 NR004508 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
U01 NR004507 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG014282 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG014260 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG014263 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG014289 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG014276 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R03 AG023078 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States