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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Driving abilities require the synchronized activity of cerebral networks associated with sensorimotor integration, motricity, and executive functions. Drivers with Parkinson’s disease (DwP) have impaired driving ability, but little is known about the impact of “wearing-off” and therapies in addition to L-DOPA on driving capacities. This study aimed to (i) compare driving performance between DwP during different motor states and healthy controls and (ii) assess the impact of add-on therapies on driving abilities. Methods: DwP (n = 26) were enrolled as individuals experiencing wearing-off symptoms and treated (within 6 months before the enrollment) with add-on therapies to L-DOPA, including MAO inhibitors for DwP-A (n = 12) or opicapone for DwP-B (n = 14). Age- and sex-matched controls (CON, n = 12) were also enrolled. DwP received two driving assessments in a driving simulator during their “best-on” time and during their wearing-off time on different days. An anamnestic driving questionnaire was collected with the assistance of partners. A Virtual Driving Rating Scale (VDRS) was calculated, as well as learning curves (LCs) for driving items calculated in minutes. Results: DwP reported worse driving performance than CON at the driving questionnaire. In line with this, DwP showed worse VDRS (p < 0.01) and LC (p = 0.021) than CON. Lower VDRS was associated with wearing-off (p < 0.01), but DwP-B had better driving performance while in their “best-on” time (p = 0.037) and more items improving with LCs (7 vs. 3) than DwP-A. Conclusions: DwP demonstrated impaired driving compared to controls. Wearing-off symptoms can also affect driving ability, but therapies (opicapone more so than MAO inhibitors) may play a role in preserving specific driving skills, possibly through maintaining learning abilities.

Details

Title
Driving Abilities and Wearing-Off in Parkinson’s Disease: A Driving Simulation Study
Author
Marano, Massimo 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Esposito, Matteo 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Sergi, Gabriele 3 ; Proietti, Francesca 2 ; Bonura, Adriano 1 ; Toro, Stefano 1 ; Magliozzi, Alessandro 1 ; Anzini, Gaia 1 ; Vincenzo Di Lazzaro 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psichiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (M.E.); [email protected] (F.P.); [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (S.T.); [email protected] (A.M.); [email protected] (G.A.); [email protected] (V.D.L.); Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; [email protected] 
 Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psichiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (M.E.); [email protected] (F.P.); [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (S.T.); [email protected] (A.M.); [email protected] (G.A.); [email protected] (V.D.L.) 
 Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; [email protected]; Unit of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy 
First page
1072
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20763425
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3132874459
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.