Improving Performance in Drivers With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Executive function and processing speed are recognized critical correlates of driving performance and have been shown to decline in older adults and in persons with mild cognitive impairment. Members of our research team have shown that group executive function training such as Goal Management Training results in benefits for healthy older adults, including improved simulated daily activities. The ultimate purpose of our research is to develop interventions to help maintain older adults' mobility in order to assist their 'aging at home'. The planned study will assess the effectiveness of an intervention that includes Goal Management Training + processing speed training (using DriveSharp software), which is designed to address both executive function and processing speed changes that contribute to poor driving performance in people with diagnosed mild cognitive impairment. The investigators will measure the effectiveness of the intervention on driving performance, sustained attention, divided attention, executive function, depressive symptoms and quality of life.

Inclusion criteria

• mild cognitive impairment
• currently driving or voluntarily stopped driving within the past year
• fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• visual problems that cannot be corrected with standard lenses
• alcohol/substance abuse
• stroke with residual motor /sensory deficit
• traumatic brain injury
• seizure in the past two years
• Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• untreated sleep apnea
• history of motion sickness
• history of dizziness, vertigo
• active primary psychiatric disorder requiring treatment
• on a dose of cognitive enhancing medication for less than 3 months