Prevalence of Depression in Older Adults and the Potential Protective Role of Volunteering: Findings From the LongROAD Study.

Background: As the US population continues to age, depression and other mental health issues have become a significant challenge for healthy aging. Few studies, however, have examined the prevalence of depression in community-dwelling older adults in the United States.

Methods: Baseline data from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers study were analyzed to examine the prevalence and correlates of depression in a multisite sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65-79 years who were enrolled and assessed between July 2015 and March 2017.

Dietary supplement use is common in older adult drivers: an analysis from the AAA LongROAD study.

Background: Dietary supplement (DS) use is common and increasing among older adults, though much data available on use frequencies are from surveys and performed cross-sectionally. This paper sought to assess the frequency and pattern of dietary supplement use among older adults over time.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the AAA LongROAD study, a longitudinal prospective cohort study of older adult drivers, using data from baseline and the first two years of follow up included a total of 2990 drivers aged 65-79 years recruited at five study sites across the US from July 2015 to March 2017.

Diabetes mellitus and hard braking events in older adult drivers.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can impair driving safety due to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic eye diseases. However, few studies have examined the association between DM and driving safety in older adults based on naturalistic driving data.

Methods: Data for this study came from a multisite naturalistic driving study of drivers aged 65-79 years at baseline.

Association between polypharmacy and hard braking events in older adult drivers.

Background: Polypharmacy (i.e., simultaneous use of two or more medications) poses a serious safety concern for older drivers.

Frailty and poor physical functioning as risk factors for driving cessation.

Introduction: Frailty and low physical performance are modifiable factors and, therefore, targets for interventions aimed at delaying driving cessation (DC). The objective was to determine the impact of frailty and physical performance on DC.

Methods: Multisite prospective cohort of older drivers.

Association of Depression and Antidepressant Use With Driving Behaviors in Older Adults: A LongROAD Study.

Older adults aged 70 and older who drive have higher crash death rates per mile driven compared to middle aged (35-54 years) adults who drive in the US. Prior studies have found that depression and or antidepressant medication use in older adults are associated with an increase in the vehicular crash rate. Using data from the prospective multi-site AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers Study, this analysis examined the independent and interdependent associations of self-reported depression and antidepressant use with driving behaviors that can increase motor vehicle crash risk such as hard braking, speeding, and night-time driving in adults over age 65.

Impact of driving cessation on health-related quality of life trajectories.

Background: Trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after driving cessation (DC) are thought to decline steeply, but for some, HRQoL may improve after DC. Our objective is to examine trajectories of HRQoL for individuals before and after DC. We hypothesize that for urban drivers, volunteers and those who access alternative transportation participants' health may remain unchanged or improve.

Migraine headaches are associated with motor vehicle crashes and driving habits among older drivers: Prospective cohort study.

Background: Migraine headache is common in older adults, often causing symptoms that may affect driving safety. This study examined associations of migraine with motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and driving habits in older drivers and assessed modification of associations by medication use.

Methods: In a multi-site, prospective cohort study of active drivers aged 65-79 (53% female), we assessed prevalent migraine (i.

Motor Vehicle Crash Risk in Older Adult Drivers With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Importance: Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as inattentiveness and impulsivity, could affect daily functioning and driving performance throughout the life span. Previous research on ADHD and driving safety is largely limited to adolescents and young adults.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of ADHD and the association between ADHD and crash risk among older adult drivers.

Interaction between benzodiazepines and prescription opioids on incidence of hard braking events in older drivers.

Background: Polypharmacy use among older adults is of increasing concern for driving safety. This study assesses the individual and joint effects of benzodiazepines and prescription opioids on the incidence of hard braking events in older drivers.

Methods: Data for this study came from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers project-a multisite, prospective cohort study of 2990 drivers aged 65-79 years at enrollment (2015-2017).

Detecting mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults using naturalistic driving data and interaction-based classification from influence score.

Several recent studies indicate that atypical changes in driving behaviors appear to be early signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. These studies, however, are limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up duration. This study aims to develop an interaction-based classification method building on a statistic named Influence Score (i.

Associations of cannabis use with motor vehicle crashes and traffic stops among older drivers: AAA LongROAD study.

Background: Acute cannabis use is associated with a higher risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVC). This study aimed to determine if self-reported past-year cannabis use is associated with MVC or traffic stops among older drivers.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used data from a multi-center study enrolling active drivers aged 65-79 years.

Association of falls and fear of falling with objectively-measured driving habits among older drivers: LongROAD study.

Objective: Falls in older adults are associated with increased motor vehicle crash risk, possibly mediated by driving behavior. We examined the relationship of falls and fear of falling (FOF) with subsequent objectively measured driving habits.

Methods: This multi-site, prospective cohort study enrolled 2990 active drivers aged 65-79 (53% female).

Older Adults' concerns regarding Hurricane-Induced evacuations during COVID-19: Questionnaire findings.

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected our day-to-day life in the last few years. This problem becomes even more challenging when older adults are considered due to their less powerful immune system and vulnerability to infectious diseases, especially in Florida where 4.5 million people aged 65 and over reside.

Associations of Self-Care Health Behaviors With Driving Cessation Among Older Drivers.

Older adults are at risk of driving cessation as they age, which can result in negative health outcomes including loss of independence. This study aimed to investigate the associations of self-care health behaviors with the risk of driving cessation. Demographics, health and driving characteristics were captured from healthcare systems in Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, Ann Arbor, MI, Baltimore, MD and Cooperstown, NY for 2,990 adults at baseline then followed from July 2015 to January 2021 in-person assessments and questionnaires.

Rate of Social Isolation by Geographic Location Among Older Adults: AAA LongROAD Study.

Social isolation is a modifiable risk factor for negative health outcomes among older adults. This work assessed the relationship between geography (i.e.

Adapted Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries Questions for Falls Risk Screening: Predictive Ability in Older Drivers.

Introduction: Fall fatality rates among U.S. older adults increased 30% from 2007 to 2016.

Using Naturalistic Driving Data to Predict Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Preliminary Findings from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) Study.

Emerging evidence suggests that atypical changes in driving behaviors may be early signals of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. This study aims to assess the utility of naturalistic driving data and machine learning techniques in predicting incident MCI and dementia in older adults. Monthly driving data captured by in-vehicle recording devices for up to 45 months from 2977 participants of the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers study were processed to generate 29 variables measuring driving behaviors, space and performance.

The Influence of Hearing Impairment on Driving Avoidance Among a Large Cohort of Older Drivers.

As people age, some of the commonly experienced psychomotor, visual, and cognitive declines can interfere with the ability to safely drive, often leading to situational avoidance of challenging driving situations. The effect of hearing impairment on these avoidance behaviors has not been comprehensively studied. Data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study were used to assess the effect of hearing impairment on driving avoidance, using three measures of hearing.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use and Hard Braking Events in Older Drivers.

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) identified by the American Geriatrics Society should generally be avoided by older adults because of ineffectiveness or excess risk of adverse effects. Few studies have examined the effects of PIMs on driving safety measured by prospectively and objectively collected driving data. Data for this study came from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers study, a multisite naturalistic driving study of older adults.

Psychological Constructs Related to Seat Belt Use: A Nationally Representative Survey Study.

Seat belt use can significantly reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes (Kahane, 2000). Nevertheless, the current U.S.

Medication use and driving patterns in older drivers: preliminary findings from the LongROAD study.

Background: The potential for impaired driving due to medication use can occur at any age, though older adults are more likely to take multiple prescribed medications and experience side effects that may affect driving ability. The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship between medications and driving safety behaviors.

Methods: Data for this study came from the five-site Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) project.

Self-Reported Opioid Use and Driving Outcomes among Older Adults: The AAA LongROAD Study.

Background: Opioid medications are important therapeutic options to mitigate the harmful effects of pain but can also impair driving ability. We sought to explore opioid use, pain levels, and driving experiences among older drivers.

Methods: Cognitively intact drivers ages 65 to 79 years were recruited for the multisite AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study (n = 2990).