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Dementia, a term that encompasses a range of symptoms associated with brain decline, is believed to impact close to a million individuals across the UK. The early stages of dementia may present with memory lapses and alterations in personality.
Yet, due to its prevalence in those over 65, these signs are often dismissed as typical ageing traits, leading to its moniker as the “silent killer”. As dementia progresses, it inevitably worsens, making the symptoms increasingly evident.
This can lead to more severe cognitive impairments, alongside potential visual and physical manifestations, reports the Express. The Alzheimer’s Association has highlighted that one of the indicators of dementia can be observed when an individual is behind the wheel.
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The association cautions that those with dementia might find spatial awareness challenging and have difficulty distinguishing colours, which complicates driving. “Some people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“They may also have problems judging distance and determining colour or contrast, causing issues with driving.” In a conversation with Express.co.uk, Stewart McGinn, the managing director at Baycroft Care Homes, also pointed out the difficulties someone with dementia may face while driving and parking.
He noted: “Dementia poses significant challenges to a person’s driving and parking abilities. The cognitive decline associated with dementia, including memory loss, impaired judgement, and reduced attention span, can make road navigation increasingly difficult.”
“Decision-making becomes problematic, affecting the ability to react to unexpected situations or the ability to make sound judgments. Reduced reaction times can impair responses to sudden changes in traffic conditions, such as unexpected braking or swerving vehicles.”
However, a diagnosis of dementia does not mean the affected person has to stop driving. One in three people with dementia still drives, the Alzheimer’s Society says. But it adds: “However, over time, dementia affects the skills needed for safe driving.”
The charity elaborates: “As dementia gets worse, it affects these skills even more. This means everyone with dementia will eventually be unable to drive safely. How quickly this happens varies from person to person.”
“Most drivers with Alzheimer’s disease will need to stop driving in the middle stage of dementia. Some types of dementia have certain early symptoms that mean an end to driving might be sooner.”
“For example, visual hallucinations are common in dementia with Lewy bodies and impulsive behaviour is common in frontotemporal dementia.”
