US EditionOlder Adults' Driving Habits May Provide Early Warning Signs of Cognitive Decline or Dementia
A study of 220 adults 65+ found that changes in driving habits may signal early white matter brain damage linked to dementia, with 17% developing cognitive impairment.
- Presenting preliminary results, the team paired long-term in-vehicle sensor data with brain MRIs in 220 adult volunteers, ages 65 and older, living independently in St. Louis, Missouri, at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, New Orleans, Feb. 4–6, 2026.
- White matter hyperintensities represent damaged brain tissue from reduced blood flow and are linked to cognitive decline and dementia, while about 6.9 million U.S. adults age 65 or older had Alzheimer's disease in 2024.
- Using continuous car sensors, researchers tracked trip frequency, safety events and destinations for over five years; all 220 participants had brain MRIs and 17% developed cognitive impairment linked to unsafe driving.
- Participants on ACE inhibitors tended to maintain safer driving despite scan-detected damage, and researchers said monitoring with commercial in-vehicle data loggers may prompt cognitive screening and imaging.
- Key limitations include sample size and participant demographics that may constrain generalizability; researchers plan larger, more diverse studies using DRIVES project data collected 2016–2024.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Daily Journal
Older people’s driving habits may reveal early warning signs of dementia
Scientists say behavior behind the wheel reveals tell-tale clues about their brain health.
Older adults' driving habits may provide early warning signs of cognitive decline or dementia
Older adults' driving habits revealed clues about their brain health and may provide early warning signs of cognitive decline or dementia, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.
Older adults' driving habits offer window into brain health, cognitive decline
Older adults' driving habits reveal clues about their brain health and may provide early warning signs of cognitive decline or dementia, according to a preliminary study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026, held in New Orleans, Feb. 4–6, 2026.
The car as a medical monitor: New data from the American Stroke Association show that insecure driving is closely linked to damage in the brain. The role of ACE inhibitors is particularly exciting.
Driving Patterns in Older Adults May Signal Early Brain Changes and Dementia Risk
A study of over 200 adults followed for five years found that greater white matter damage in the brain was linked to decreased driving, fewer trips, repetitive routes and having more driving errors, especially in those who later developed dementia. In contrast, adults ages 65 and older who were taking blood pressure medicines, particularly ACE inhibitors, were less likely to show risky driving behaviors, even when brain damage was present. Subtl…
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