Apolipoprotein E4 and driving
What is it about?
Does being a carrier of apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) affect driving performance? This paper examines the simulated driving of carriers and matched non-carriers of APOE4 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). All participants were regular drivers, who drove in moderate and high traffic volume in a rural environment. We measured driving speed, distance from the vehicle ahead, car position from the right road border, and speed of braking in unexpected incidents.
Why is it important?
The driving behavior of APOE4 carriers compared to non-carriers is not known. Carriers of APOE4 showed less variability than non-carriers in their driving speed but did not differ in any other measures. Reduced speed variability indicates reduced speed adaptations to the driving environment.