A recent conference at the GM Technical Center campus called The Eye And The Auto International Conference had a speaker named Dr. Michael Merzenich who is the chief scientific Officer for Posit Science. He was hosting a discussion about the impact of Brain fitness instruction and how it can aid drivers to sustain their driving abilities longer and more safely under various driving conditions.
A driving expert and cognitive aging specialist Dr. Jerri D. Edwards, PhD conducted the results of studies having been verified under clinical conditions. The Doctor has also just been published in The erontologist journal for aging issues and a gerontology and medical science journal. Both Doctors have eminent qualifications in the field of aging.
In the study known as SKILL or Staying Keen In Later Life, it was paid for by the National Institute of Health and had 500 participants, all healthy adults aged sixty or older. These contributors were sectored off and then followed for a three year term. The driving group at highest risk for vehicle engagement participated in computerized cognitive educational exercises for a five week period altogether doing ten hours. When researchers studied the data, they discovered that the high risk drivers who completed the brain testing had lowered their chance of accident to the same level as the low risk drivers in the control group.
Over the three year period, the high risk drivers continued their participation and with no alteration in their driving schedule, they increased their confidence levels when driving in various challenging conditions and scenarios. These included night time driving, driving during inclement weather and also in high traffic situations.
In the second study, the data was amalgamated from the SKILL study project and the ACTIVE study or Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study, with the intention of measuring and evaluating driver cessation. Dr. Edward along with her associates realized that when the brain is trained and guided in cognitive testing it postpones the conclusion of driving for the elderly drivers who have a problem with the speed in which they process problems.
Preceding trials have displayed that the interactive software applications improved elderly drivers’ response aptitude and they were able to respond more rapidly when making driving choices. This achievement enabled them to drive for a longer period of time and with added confidence while doing so.
Dr. Edward said that science has introduced new means to improve and extend driving privileges and that there does not necessarily need to be a wariness regarding driving longer than prudently possibly and concern for potential negative results when doing so. There is no reason to put an elderly person through the trauma of doing away with their car keys since these folks can now be educated and trained to become improved drivers in their advanced years.
These brain exercises utilized during these two trials have become available to the public at large in a software application known as DriveSharp – from Posit Science.
Wed, Nov 4, 2009
Gerontology, Longevity