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.

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.

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.

Correlates of caregiver well-being: The National Study of Caregivers.

Background: The literature demonstrates an association between aspects of caregiving and support with caregiver burden and differences by race. Our objective was to examine correlates of caregiver wellbeing, and if the effect is moderated by race.

Methods: The National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) is a survey of unpaid and familial caregivers affiliated with participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries.

Global Pain and Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study on Age Differences in the Intensity of Chronic Pain Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in 20 Countries.

Objectives: This study aims to examine age differences in the intensity of chronic pain among middle-aged and older adults, where intensity is measured on a scale differentiating between chronic pain that is often troubling and likely requires intervention versus more endurable sensations. We aim to explore whether individual health and national gross domestic product (GDP) explain these differences as well.

Methods: Cross-nationally harmonized data from 20 countries on self-reported intensity of chronic pain (0 = no, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) in 104,826 individuals aged 50+ observed in 2012-2013.

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).

Patterns of Self-Care Behaviors and Their Influence on Maintaining Independence: The National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Few studies have addressed the combined effects of health-promoting and self-care behaviors among older adults. Thus, new research is needed to assess the potential for behavior change to prolong independence in later life. To determine the relationships between self-care behaviors and risks of mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs) over time.

Central Obesity Is Associated With an Increased Rate of Multisite Pain in Older Adults.

Objective: Central obesity has been associated with several adverse health events, but little research exists about the longitudinal effects of central obesity on multisite pain. The purpose of this study was to assess if central obesity, as measured by waist circumference measurement, was associated with an increased rate of having multisite pain among older adults aged 65 years and older.

Design: The National Health and Aging Trends Study is a longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2011 and intended to be representative of Medicare beneficiaries in the contiguous United States.

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.

The Association of Pain Levels and Low Physical Activity among Older Women.

There is an integral research gap regarding whether there is a relationship between pain levels and low physical activity among older women. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study, the Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) II. Our analyses included 436 community-dwelling women between the ages of 70 and 79, who were followed for 10.

Poor Lower Extremity Functioning Is Associated with Modest Increased Incidence of Probable Dementia.

Lower extremity functioning in older adults provides a measure of poor physical performance and can predict negative health outcomes. The consequences of reduced lower extremity functioning on cognitive decline, measured as time-varying variables, have not been well documented in previous studies. We aimed to evaluate whether lower extremity functioning is associated with an increased incidence rate of probable dementia among older adults using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

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.

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.

Corrigendum to "Fall Risk Reduction Program Paired with a Transportation Program in an Underserved, Urban Minority Community: A Qualitative Evaluation".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/2719290.].

Evaluating a Two-Level vs. Three-Level Fall Risk Screening Algorithm for Predicting Falls Among Older Adults.

Falls account for the highest proportion of preventable injury among older adults. Thus, the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) algorithm to screen for fall risk. We referred to our STEADI algorithm adaptation as "Quick-STEADI" and compared the predictive abilities of the three-level (low, moderate, and high risk) and two-level (at-risk and not at-risk) Quick-STEADI algorithms.

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).