Yahoo News Red flag sign while driving could be symptom of serious condition
Progress of a sadly all-too-common condition can result in problems that become evident when behind the wheel, warn experts.
Dementia - which covers a group of symptoms linked to the ongoing decline of the brain - is thought to affect almost one million people in the UK and while many of those symptoms are commonly known, others may be picked up from problems which can become clear while driving a car, reports The Express.
Early signs of the condition can include symptoms such as memory loss and personality changes although, as it most commonly affects people over the age of 65, these often might be mistaken for some normal signs of getting older. This is why dementia has a reputation as a 'silent killer' but it is a progressive condition, tending to worsen over time, so symptoms become more noticeable as it advances and this can result in further cognitive problems - which might be spotted when a person is driving, according to Alzheimer’s Association.
Alongside these cognitive problems can be visual and physical side effects too. The Alzheimer’s Association warns that people with dementia could struggle with spatial awareness and determining colours, making driving more difficult.
It says: “Some people living with Alzheimer's or other dementia could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading.
“They may also have problems judging distance and determining colour or contrast, causing issues with driving.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Stewart McGinn, managing director at Baycroft Care Homes, also warned that a person with dementia might struggle with driving and parking. He said: “Dementia poses significant challenges to a person's driving and parking abilities.
“The cognitive decline associated with dementia, including memory loss, impaired judgement and reduced attention span, can make road navigation increasingly difficult. Decision-making becomes problematic, affecting the ability to react to unexpected situations or the ability to make sound judgments.
“Reduced reaction times can impair responses to sudden changes in traffic conditions, such as unexpected braking or swerving vehicles.”
However, a diagnosis of dementia does not mean that the affected person has to stop driving. One in three people with dementia still drives, says the Alzheimer’s Society.
But it adds: “However, over time, dementia affects the skills needed for safe driving.” And it says: “As dementia gets worse, it affects these skills even more.
"This means everyone with dementia will eventually be unable to drive safely. How quickly this happens varies from person to person.
“Most drivers with Alzheimer’s disease will need to stop driving in the middle stage of dementia. Some types of dementia have certain early symptoms that mean an end to driving might be sooner.
“For example, visual hallucinations are common in dementia with Lewy body dementia and impulsive behaviour is common in frontotemporal dementia.”
The signs of dementia, according to the NHS, include the following:
Memory loss
Difficulty concentrating
Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as becoming confused over the correct change when shopping
Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
Being confused about time and place
Mood changes
Anyone who thinks they or a loved one may be displaying signs of dementia is advised to speak to a GP.
