2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Driving evaluation for older adult drivers using NIRS and driving simulator
| Project/Area Number |
16591163
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Psychiatric science
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| Research Institution | Showa University |
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Principal Investigator |
MIMURA Masaru Showa Univ., Neuropsychiatry, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (00190728)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KAWAMURA Mitsuru Showa Univ., Neurology, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (20161375)
NAKAGOME Kazuyuki Tottori Univ., Neuropsychiatry, Professor, 精神医学教室, 教授 (30198056)
OTSUBO Tempei Showa Univ., Neuropsychiatry, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (20245856)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
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| Keywords | driving / Alzheimer's disease / mild cognitive impairment / NIRS / simulator / aging / frontal lobe / risk |
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| Research Abstract |
Background
Police Department of Japan has reported that one third of older adults hold a driver's license. It is essential to appropriately evaluate capability of driving of older adults because of their own safety as well as safety of the public. The present study aimed to evaluate activities of medial and lateral prefrontal cortex of healthy older adults and people with dementia while conducting driving simulation.
Participants and Methods
Participants consisted of 30 healthy older adults who hold driver's license and 8 individuals with dementia. First, oxy-Hb values were monitored by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)(52 channels, Hitachi ETG4000) while performing on a driving simulator, TEDDY (TOYOTA Central R＆D Labs.) as compared to resting state, i.e. passive viewing. Second, oxy-Hb values between non-eventful and high risk driving situations were also compared.
Results
Participants as a group displayed a mild elevation of oxy-Hb on lateral prefrontal cortex while driving as compared to passive viewing. There was no change or even deactivation observed in the medial prefrontal cortex while driving. Moreover, healthy older adults showed a consistent increase in oxy-Hb under the high risk situations where one needed to make brake responses against rushing pedestrians or bikes. They exhibited elevated oxy-Hb values on broader areas of bilateral medial and lateral prefrontal cortex in the high risk situations. Reaction time of people with dementia was significantly delayed as compared to healthy individuals although their patterns of oxy-Hb changes were variable.
Conclusions
Multi-channel NIRS is useful to easily assess and monitor one's activities of prefrontal cortex while conducting driving simulation.
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