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Helping the elderly keep their driving skills

The New York Times, 7/17/09

Abstract:

According to Census projections, as reported by The Shreveport Times, next year there will be 39 million Americans aged 65 years or older. And that number will jump to 69 million by 2030, which means more older drivers. By 2025, one-quarter of Americans will be considered elderly, said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a not-for-profit research and educational organization.

A new computer program designed to help older people drive more safely was announced this week by the AAA Foundation. The software, DriveSharp, released in partnership with Posit Science, a provider of brain fitness programs, is intended to help Baby Boomers retrain their brains and delay the impact of aging.

“Most people buy into the ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ philosophy with respect to physical abilities,” said Mr. Kissinger. “But the bottom line is, it’s the same thing with the brain — the most important muscle in your body.”

DriveSharp consists of two interactive exercises designed to improve focus, reaction time and memory, and increase visual processing speed and the ability to track multiple objects, like cars at a busy intersection. But the gamelike software is serious science, the developers said: clinical studies have shown that when used properly, the program can help drivers see more, think faster and cut crash risk by up to 50 percent.

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