A person with Alzheimer's disease who drives a car:
(1) may become disoriented
(2) may forget why and where one is driving
(3) may become lost
(4) may be unable to respond quickly to an unexpected event due to slowing of reflexes
(5) may misjudge distances and speed
(6) may forget the rules of the road
(7) may be easily frustrated and angry
Risk for having an accident:
(1) visual and/or auditory disability
(2) other health conditions (especially cardiovascular disease)
(3) history of a previous accident
(4) mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease or worse
(5) poor weather conditions
(6) mechanical problems with the vehicle
Deciding when a person with Alzheimer's disease should no longer be able to drive can be difficult, especially when the patient is not cooperative.
