When your loved ones second guess your driving ability as you age

Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) reduce drivers' ability to operate a vehicle, making them risky drivers. However, a percentage of people in the mild phase can still pass driving tests without added risk. Driving can be very relevant to the person's independence, so it is important to know whether or not it is necessary to stop driving. In addition, people with dementia rarely make the decision to stop driving themselves, due to a lack of awareness of their own deficits. Periodically applying the CogniFit driving assessment can help distinguish which drivers are able to drive and who may pose a risk to road safety. In any case, people with advanced-stage dementia should not drive at all. However, some studies suggest that patients with mild dementia should not drive either, given the risk they pose to themselves and others and that only about 50% of people with MCI are able to drive. There are a series of warning symptoms that can indicate the need to take this assessment, such as having caused accidents, not recognizing known roads, detecting people or vehicles that you have not seen in advance, close relatives who are concerned about how they drive. Any of these signs may be enough. It is important to keep in mind that experience cannot always compensate for the effects of age.

Drive again after brain damage and rehabilitation

Brain damage can appear in very different ways, such as stroke, brain tumor, traffic accident, or any number of other situations. Injuries to the brain can cause mild or severe alterations in people's cognitive functioning. These disturbances often prevent or hinder activities of daily life, such as working, driving, or even getting dressed. In the case of driving, the risk of causing an accident involving oneself or others increases exponentially if the person driving has lost or diminished the cognitive abilities needed to drive. In some cases, after proper neurorehabilitation, the person recovers a sufficient level to drive. However, it is critical to conduct a thorough assessment to distinguish whether the improvement is good enough to drive. CogniFit's evaluation battery for drivers can help make a decision about whether or not the person can resume driving.

When you drive professionally

Road safety and efficient driving are particularly relevant when the user is professionally engaged in driving. This evaluation for driving helps us know which cognitive aspects (reaction time, divided attention, planning, etc.) can make us stand out as drivers, or if we are really prepared to aspire to a job of this kind.

When you want to measure cognitive strengths and abilities in drivers

Understanding how different areas of the brain work allows us to determine the cognitive status and recognize strengths and weaknesses. This battery can help us understand what is causing a person's difficulties (e. g. memory problems vs attention problems), which makes it easier to start appropriate training, such as CogniFit Cognitive Training for Drivers.

When you haven't driven in a long time

Even when we have our driver's license approved, the lack of practice can make us feel unsafe when driving our vehicle around the city, or for long journeys. It is also not surprising that people who have recently had a child feel that this increased responsibility makes them doubt their abilities. This driving test can be used to check whether our cognitive abilities and reflexes are at an appropriate level for these situations.