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.

An online driving decision aid for older drivers reduces ambivalence and regret about driving decisions: Randomized trial.

Background: Decisions about driving cessation can be stressful for older adults. We tested effects of a driving decision aid (DDA) on psychosocial outcomes among older drivers during two-year follow-up.

Methods: Multisite randomized controlled trial of licensed drivers ages ≥70 with at least one diagnosis associated with increased likelihood of driving cessation, without significant cognitive impairment.

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.

Distribution of COVID-19 Home Testing Through Community Health Centers: Results of the .

Objective: To assess acceptability and feasibility of rapid at-home COVID-19 testing and reporting of test results among individuals seeking care at community health centers (CHCs) and their household members.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 2 Community Health Centers during a clinic visit or a community event. Over-the-counter COVID-19 tests were distributed to participants for self-testing and to offer testing to household members.

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.

A border health crisis at the United States-Mexico border: an urgent call to action.

In this Viewpoint, we provide an overview of the worsening trend of traumatic injuries across the United States-Mexico border after its recent fortification and height extension to 30-feet. We further characterize the international factors driving migration and the current U.S.

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.

Relationship of Decisional Conflict About Driving Habits Between Older Adult Drivers and Their Family Members and Close Friends.

This study examines the relationship of decisional conflict about driving habits between older adult drivers (≥70 years old) and their family members and close friends. This secondary analysis utilizes data originating from a multi-site randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a driving decision aid (DDA) intervention. Decisional conflict about stopping or changing driving habits for drivers was measured with the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS).

Cognitive Preference and Clinical Experience: The Relationship Between Student Nurse Anesthetists' and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists' Thinking Styles.

This study examined the relationship between cognitive preference and clinical experience in student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Survey data was collected from enrolled SRNAs and practicing CRNAs via an email link distributive through a network sampling technique. Participants completed the Rational Experiential Inventory (REI-40), which assesses individuals' preference, ability, and engagement with rational and experiential cognitive styles.

Older Adults and Unintentional Injury.

Clinicians play an important role in the prevention of unintentional injuries. Falls and motor vehicle crashes (MVC) have predictable and overlapping antecedents. Systematic screening for and management of vision impairment, frailty, cognitive impairment, polypharmacy, and inappropriate medications will reduce both falls and MVC risks.

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).

Mild Cognitive Impairment is Associated with Poorer Everyday Decision Making.

Background: Older adults are faced with many unique and highly consequential decisions such as those related to finances, healthcare, and everyday functioning (e.g., driving cessation).

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.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Baja California, Mexico: Findings from a community-based survey in February 2021 in the Mexico-United States border.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, the state of Baja California, Mexico, which borders the United States, registered 46,118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a mortality rate of 238.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. Given limited access to testing, the population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown.

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).

Neighborhood Factors Associated with COVID-19 Cases in California.

Background: There is a need to assess neighborhood-level factors driving COVID-19 disparities across racial and ethnic groups.

Objective: To use census tract-level data to investigate neighborhood-level factors contributing to racial and ethnic group-specific COVID-19 case rates in California.

Design: Quasi-Poisson generalized linear models were used to identify neighborhood-level factors associated with COVID-19 cases.