Uniformly positive or negative correlation of cerebral gray matter regions with driving safety behaviors of healthy older drivers

Park, Kaechang; Putra, Handityo Aulia; Yoshida, Shinichi; Yamashita, Fumio; Kawaguchi, Atsushi · 2024 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50895-7

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Summary

This study investigates the relationship between cerebral gray matter (GM) volume and driving safety behaviors (DSBs) in healthy older adults, addressing the rising concern of traffic accidents involving older drivers without dementia. While cognitive decline is a known risk factor, many accidents involve cognitively normal individuals, suggesting that specific executive functions related to driving may deteriorate independently. The research aims to identify which brain structures correlate with specific driving skills, potentially offering insights for developing targeted countermeasures. The study enrolled 98 older drivers (mean age 77.72 years) without dementia, recruited from Japan. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure regional GM volumes using voxel-based morphometry, analyzing 56 specific anatomical regions, as well as total brain, GM, and white matter volumes. Driving performance was assessed on a closed-circuit course using actual vehicles. A single instructor evaluated participants across six DSB categories: visual search behavior, speeding, signaling, vehicle stability, positioning, and steering. Scores were assigned on a three-point scale, with higher scores indicating safer driving. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between GM volumes and DSB scores, controlling for age, gender, and driving distance, with Bonferroni and False Discovery Rate corrections applied for multiple comparisons. The results revealed that 18 of the 56 GM regions showed significant correlations with at least one DSB category, except for vehicle stability. A key finding was that when a single GM region correlated with multiple DSB categories, the direction of the correlation (positive or negative) was uniform for that region, despite the functional differences between the driving behaviors. For instance, the left postcentral gyrus showed a negative correlation with five of the six DSB categories, suggesting it may play a complex regulatory role. Conversely, regions like the left angular gyrus and right parahippocampal gyrus showed positive correlations with multiple safety behaviors. Total GM volume was negatively correlated with signaling behavior, while frontal lobe volume was positively correlated with visual search behavior. These findings suggest that brain mechanisms underlying driving safety are not uniform; rather, they involve contradictory or distinct neural pathways. The uniform directionality of correlations for specific regions implies that certain brain areas may broadly influence multiple aspects of driving safety, either enhancing or inhibiting performance across different tasks. The study highlights the potential utility of MRI-based GM volume measurements in understanding the neural basis of driving safety in older adults. By identifying specific brain regions associated with driving performance, this research supports the development of more nuanced assessments and interventions for older drivers, moving beyond general cognitive screening to address specific functional declines.

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• mci dementia driving