Motor vehicle crashes and dementia: a population-based study

EXTENDED ABSTRACT: This study aimed to compare the crash risk among older drivers with and without dementia. A retrospective population cohort study was undertaken, including 5,302 participants (1,666 with dementia) who had been involved in a motor vehicle crash from 2001 to 2013. Logistic regression analysis showed that older adults with dementia were significantly more likely to have been involved in a crash in the three years prior to diagnosis than other older adults. Based on the study results, licensing authorities and clinicians need to balance safety considerations with mobility needs for older drivers particularly those with early signs of dementia.