BMJ  2007;334:1365-1369 (30 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39233.585208.55

Clinical Review

Driving and dementia

David A Breen, consultant in public health medicine1, David P Breen, foundation year 2 doctor in combined assessment medicine2, John W Moore, consultant clinical neuropsychologist1, Patricia A Breen, staff grade in old age psychiatry1, Desmond O'Neill, associate professor of medical gerontology3

1 NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries, Scotland, 2 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 3 Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Correspondence to: D O'Neill, Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin 24, Republic of Ireland arhc@amnchi.ie

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.


Many people with early dementia are capable of driving safely
Evidence suggests that the risk of crashes in drivers with dementia is low for up to three years after disease onset, but this varies between people
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency must be notified of all new diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: this relies primarily on self reporting
The doctor's role is to make an immediate decision on safety to drive and to ensure that the licensing agency is notified
Cognitive testing cannot determine whether individuals with early dementia are able to drive safely
The challenge for doctors and the licensing agency is to balance mobility and safety in a growing population of older drivers


Dementia is important in relation to driving. As the disease progresses the ability to drive safely is eventually lost and at that point current regulations demand that driving stops. Many patients continue . . . [Full text of this article]


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