ADHD in older adults linked to increased car crash risk, study shows

A recent prospective cohort study conducted across five US sites has uncovered a concerning association between ADHD and an elevated risk of vehicular crashes among older drivers.

This groundbreaking research, carried out between July 2015 and March 2019, marks a pivotal moment in recognizing the potential ramifications of ADHD on road safety in the aging population. .

The findings were derived from data collected through in-vehicle recording devices and annual assessments, involving 2,832 active older drivers. The study revealed that 2.6% of the participants had a lifetime history of ADHD. Older drivers with ADHD exhibited higher incidence rates of hard-braking events, self-reported traffic ticket events, and self-reported vehicular crashes compared to their counterparts without ADHD.

Hard-Braking Events: ADHD-affected drivers had an incidence rate of 1.35 per 1000 miles, while those without ADHD recorded a lower rate of 1.15 per 1000 miles.

Traffic Ticket Events: The gap was even more pronounced in self-reported traffic ticket events, with ADHD-affected drivers registering an incidence rate of 22.47 per 1 million miles compared to 9.74 per 1 million miles in non-ADHD drivers.

Vehicular Crashes: The data showed a similar trend, with ADHD-afflicted older drivers experiencing a rate of 27.10 crashes per 1 million miles, whereas non-ADHD drivers had a lower rate of 13.50 crashes per 1 million miles.

After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the study found that ADHD was associated with a 7% increased risk of hard-braking events, a striking 102% increased risk of self-reported traffic ticket events, and a concerning 74% increased risk of self-reported vehicular crashes.

Reference: Liu Y, Chihuri S, Mielenz TJ, et al. Motor Vehicle Crash Risk in Older Adult Drivers With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(10):e2336960. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.36960