Mild-Mod Parkinson’s May Up Driver Risk

People with Parkinson’s disease usually feel quite healthy in the early stages of their disease. Other than the tremor that leads to the diagnosis, there may not be any other symptoms or difficulties at first. So, they continue to lead their lives as well as they can for as long as they can. This included continuing to drive. Of course, most people who feel physically unable to drive will stop, but sometimes the loss of the ability isn’t as obvious, even to the most careful of people.

Actor Michael J. Fox, arguably the most famous person in North America with Parkinson’s has done a lot to raise its profile among the general public. The tremors are the most well known part of Parkinson’s, but the disease affects other parts of the body as well. Other effects may be:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Difficult chewing
• Difficulty speaking
• Urinary problems
• Constipation
• Visual disurbances
• Depression

Visual problems and driving

Researchers from Iowa studied 118 people, 67 of whom had mild to moderate Parkinson’s and 51 who didn’t. The subjects took driving simulation tests and the results were published in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology.

After a visual processing test, the subjects drove for the first part in good conditions, with clear skies. This was switched to a foggy, low visibility situation. While driving in the fog, another vehicle came out of an intersection and the subjects were tested on their reaction time.

The researchers found that the subjects who had Parkinson’s crashed 76% of the time – with a reaction time of 2.7 seconds, compared with 37% of those who didn’t have the disease and whose reaction time was 2.1 seconds. Those with Parkinson’s were also driving faster (49 mph) compared with those without (39 mph).

It was also found that those with Parkinson’s drifted over the center line more often than those without. The subjects with Parkinson’s who scored the lowest on the visual processing test were more likely to crash.

Fog and twilight can mimic the same conditions, so this finding is worrisome for those who continue to drive after their diagnosis.

~~~

Image: PhotoXpress.com