Mental Health RAISR4D

Self-Reported Driving Behaviours and the Relationship With Sleepiness in Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment

15/05/2026

AI Summary

MCI drivers reported 2.26 times more driving lapses than cognitively healthy participants on the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire.
SCD drivers reported 2.54 times more driving violations than MCI, and 7.51 times more inattention events than healthy in diaries.
Higher Sleepiness Symptoms Questionnaire scores linked to increased inattention events in SCD and MCI (P ≤ .018), suggesting intervention opportunities to support driving.

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2026 May 14:8919887261452231. doi: 10.1177/08919887261452231. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundDriving promotes independence in older adults, yet age-related changes in cognition and sleepiness may reduce driver safety. We examined associations between sleepiness and driving in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsA cross-sectional/observational study of older drivers (60-80 years), classified as cognitively healthy (n = 21), SCD (n = 26), or MCI (n = 13), completing the Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ), and a 2-week driving diary including the Sleepiness Symptoms Questionnaire (SSQ).ResultsFor DBQ, MCI drivers reported 2.26x more driving lapses (eg, memory/attention failures) than healthy, while SCD reported 2.54x more driving violations than MCI. For diaries, SCD drivers reported 7.51x more inattention events than healthy, and higher SSQ (P = .002). Higher SSQ was associated with increased inattention events for SCD and MCI groups (P ≤ .018).ConclusionSleepiness impacts poorer driving outcomes in SCD and MCI, providing an intervention opportunity to support continued driving.

PMID:42135261 | DOI:10.1177/08919887261452231

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