Cognitive abilities as predictors of safety to drive in people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Cognitive impairments resulting from multiple sclerosis (MS) may affect driving performance. The purpose was to determine whether cognitive tests predict safety to drive in people with MS. Participants were recruited from people referred to Derby Regional Mobility Centre for assessment of their fitness to drive. They were assessed on tests of cognitive abilities related to driving including: the Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Stroop, Motor Impersistence and Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery (AMIPB). Participants' safety to drive on the public road was tested by an approved driving instructor blind to the results of the cognitive assessment. There were 34 participants with MS, 17 were men, mean age 46 (SD 10.4) years. Safe and unsafe drivers were compared. Significant differences were found on tests of executive function (Road Sign Recognition, P<0.01), visual memory (Design Learning Interference, P<0.05) Information Processing (AMIPB Task A, P<0.05 and B, P<0.05), concentration (Dot Cancellation false positive errors, P<0.01) and visuospatial abilities (AMIPB Figure copy). An equation was generated using discriminant function analysis with an overall predictive accuracy of 88% (Sensitivity for pass 90%, Specificity 90%). Cognitive abilities were predictors of safety to drive in people with MS.