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The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability in dementia: a meta-analysis
Reger MA, Welsh RK, Watson GS, Cholerton B, Baker LD, Craft S.. Neuropsychology, 2004-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A meta-analysis of 27 primary studies was conducted to examine the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability for adults with dementia. When studies using a control group were included, the relationship between cognitive measures and on-road or non-road driving measures was significant for all reported domains; mean correlations ranged from.35 to.65. Caregiver reports of driving ability and cognitive variables were correlated significantly only on measures of mental status and visuospatial skills. When studies using a control group were excluded, moderate mean correlations were observed for visuospatial skills and on-road or non-road measures, and for mental status with non-road tests. Other effects were small or nonsignificant. Implications for basing driving recommendations on neuropsychological testing are discussed.
Key findings
- When studies using a control group were included, the relationship between cognitive measures and on-road or non-road driving measures was significant for all reported domains; mean correlations ranged from.35 to.65.
- Caregiver reports of driving ability and cognitive variables were correlated significantly only on measures of mental status and visuospatial skills.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis of 27 studies found that when studies with a control group were included, the relationship between cognitive measures and driving measures was significant for all reported domains, with mean correlations from .35 to .65. When those studies were excluded, only visuospatial skills and mental status showed moderate correlations, and other effects were small or nonsignificant.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuropsychology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Neuropsychology: journal h-index 183 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 285 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.9 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 16 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Suzanne Craft: h-index 103 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 14744191) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Reger, M. A., Welsh, R. K., Watson, G. S., Cholerton, B., Baker, L. D., & Craft, S. (2004). The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability in dementia: a meta-analysis. Neuropsychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.85
Vancouver
Reger MA, Welsh RK, Watson GS, Cholerton B, Baker LD, Craft S. The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability in dementia: a meta-analysis. Neuropsychology. 2004. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.85. PMID: 14744191.
BibTeX
@article{reger2004-14744191,
author = {Reger, M. A. and Welsh, R. K. and Watson, G. S. and Cholerton, B. and Baker, L. D. and Craft, S.},
title = {{The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and driving ability in dementia: a meta-analysis}},
journal = {Neuropsychology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.85},
pmid = {14744191},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.85}
}
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