Depression tied to risky driving in older adults
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Risky driving behaviors such as speeding and hard braking are more common among adults 65 and older who have been diagnosed with depression compared to their peers without the mood disorder, according to a study published online Dec. 30, 2024, by JAMA Network Open.
Researchers recruited a total of 395 older adults who were willing to have their daily driving behaviors recorded using commercial vehicle data loggers installed in their cars. The group included 85 people with depression (average age 69, 71% women) and 310 adults without the disorder (average age 70, 49% women). Their driving behaviors were tracked for an average of just over a year.
Participants with depression exhibited far more hard braking, hard cornering, speeding, and unpredictable driving patterns than their peers without depression. The link persisted even after the researchers controlled for factors such as sex, physical illnesses, antidepressant use, and total medication usage. The results highlight the need for interventions tailored to older adults' mental health and driving behaviors, including routine depression screening and driver rehabilitation programs, the study authors said.
Image: © Mónica E. Vázquez Alvarez/Getty Images
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
