Objectives: To determine the characteristics of drivers with dementia and analyze their driving habits.
Methods: The study was conducted among neurologists and geriatricians in the Poitou-Charentes region. We asked 75 physicians to question (according to a structured questionnaire) the patients they saw in January 2004 who were known to suffer from dementia, defined by a Folstein Mini-Mental State (MMS) score pound 25. We compared the epidemiologic characteristics of drivers and nondrivers and described their driving habits.
Results: Of the 75 practitioners asked to participate, 27 (36%) accepted and interviewed 146 patients, 74 women and 72 men. Their mean MMS score was 17.6 +/- 5.6 [0-25]. In all, 52 were still driving at the time of the interview, and 48 had stopped, 9 because of motor vehicle accidents. Logistic regression analysis revealed 3 significant variables that differed between the drivers and the nondrivers: drivers were mainly male (p=0.0002), younger (p=0.001) and more recently diagnosed (p=0.003). Half those still driving drove only occasionally (< or =3 times a week), usually during daylight and for short distances. One driver was involved in an accident the year before.
Discussion: Patients appeared to be aware of the dangers of driving and avoided taking risks. The MMS score predicted driving status. It is essential to develop simple tests to assess driving ability as objectively as possible.