Virginia Wadley - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Virginia Wadley

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Jan 15, 2015

Multilevel models assessed the effects of cognitive speed of processing training (SPT) on older a... more Multilevel models assessed the effects of cognitive speed of processing training (SPT) on older adults' self-reported driving using intention-to-treat (ITT, randomization to training or control conditions) and dosage (treatment-received via number of training sessions) analyses across 5 years. Participants randomized to SPT (n = 598) were compared with those randomized to either the no-contact control (n = 598) or memory training, which served as an active control (n = 610). Driving mobility (frequency, exposure, and space) was assessed over time. No significant effects were found within the ITT analyses. However, number of SPT sessions did affect driving mobility outcomes. In the full sample (N = 1,806), higher SPT doses were associated with maintained driving frequency as compared with both control groups, but no effects were found for driving exposure or space. Subsample analyses (n = 315) revealed that persons at-risk for mobility declines (i.e., poor initial processing spee...

In the absence of disease or impairment, there is no empirical evidence that subtle, agerelated c... more In the absence of disease or impairment, there is no empirical evidence that subtle, agerelated changes in sensory or cognitive function affect older drivers' abilities to safely operate a motor vehicle. However, impairments that do affect driving occur with a higher prevalence in the older population. This paper describes a meta-analysis of risk factors for automobile crash. Risks associated with compromises in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, useful field of view, and mental status are examined. Risks associated with medical conditions, medications, and physical limitations also are discussed. Results demonstrate that visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are only weakly associated with crash risk, while cognitive variables and mental status measures are moderately associated with crash risk. A specific measure of The Useful Field of View, UFOV  , is strongly associated with crash risk. These results suggest that driver evaluations aimed at detecting unsafe drivers can be significantly improved. Specifically, evaluations can be improved by including a broader assessment of visual function, an assessment of cognitive function including the UFOV  , an assessment of mental status, and an assessment of physical status. An evaluation incorporating these components might facilitate driver qualification or referral for appropriate intervention. A driver screening evaluation program incorporating these components is currently underway. With over 2,000 older adult participants, results from this model program indicate that cognitive function, rather than visual or physical function, is most strongly associated with mobility outcomes. Thus, interventions to maintain or improve cognitive function may also help to sustain mobility.

Transportation Research Part F-traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 2010

These secondary analyses were conducted to identify predictors of self-rated driving ability over... more These secondary analyses were conducted to identify predictors of self-rated driving ability over three years in community-dwelling older adults. From the Staying Keen in Later Life (SKILL) study, baseline and 3-year follow-up data for 426 older drivers were analyzed. Health, visual, physical, psychological and cognitive abilities were examined as prospective predictors of self-rated driving ability over a 3-year period, controlling

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2008

The Gerontologist, 2011

In 129 community-dwelling older adults, feedback regarding qualification for an insurance discoun... more In 129 community-dwelling older adults, feedback regarding qualification for an insurance discount (based on a visual speed of processing test; Useful Field of View) was examined as a prospective predictor of change in self-reported driving ability, driving avoidance, and driving exposure over 3 months, along with physical, visual, health, and cognitive variables. Multiple regression models indicated that after controlling for baseline scores on the outcome measures, failure to qualify was a significant predictor of increased avoidance over 3 months (p = .02) but not change in self-rated driving ability or exposure. Female gender (p = .03) was a significant predictor of subsequent lower self-rated driving ability. Overall, the findings of this study provide support for the role of feedback in the self-monitoring of older adults' driving behavior through avoidance of challenging driving situations but not through driving exposure or self-rated driving ability.

… of the Second …, 2003

Recent research has indicated that some laboratory measures of functional ability may discriminat... more Recent research has indicated that some laboratory measures of functional ability may discriminate between crash-involved and crash-free older adults. However, the ability of these tests to provide the same level of discriminability in a real-world setting such as a Department of Motor ...

Human Factors: The …, 2003

Archives of physical …, 2006

Development and evaluation of homebased speed-of-processing training for older adults. Arch Phys ... more Development and evaluation of homebased speed-of-processing training for older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2006;87:757-63. Objectives: To develop technical parameters for a videotape-based speed-of-processing training protocol, to evaluate the feasibility of self-administration (experiment 1), and to evaluate the protocol's effectiveness (experiment 2). Design: A feasibility study (experiment 1) and a pre-post, 4-arm, nonrandomized controlled trial (experiment 2). Setting: University research center. Participants: A population-based sample (37 men, 47 women; age range, 65Ϫ94y) (experiment 1). A population-based sample (age Ն65y) with no prior exposure to the Useful Field of View assessment or speed-of-processing training, no dementia or life-limiting illness, a Mini-Mental State Examination score of greater than 24, corrected far visual acuity of greater than or equal to 20/40, contrast sensitivity of greater than or equal to 1.50 log 10 , and deficient processing speed (experiment 2). For experiment 2, 8 of 189 eligible people declined to participate. The final sample for this experiment included 100 men and 81 women (age range, 65Ϫ91y). Interventions: Eight to ten 1-hour cognitive training sessions. Main Outcome Measure: Posttraining gains in processing speed. Results: Self-administration was feasible. Subjects who underwent home-based training improved their processing speed significantly more than either control group (F 3,146 ϭ16.16, PϽ.001). Their gains were 74% as great as the gains of those who underwent trainer-facilitated speed-of-processing training. Conclusions: People can improve their processing speed at home using readily available technology. Future research should explore the relation of these improvements to driving performance.

Journal of aging and …, 2005

1. J Aging Phys Act. 2005 Jul;13(3):294-313. The effects of physical activity and sedentary behav... more 1. J Aging Phys Act. 2005 Jul;13(3):294-313. The effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior on cognitive health in older adults. Vance DE, Wadley VG, Ball KK, Roenker DL, Rizzo M. Dept. of Psychology and Center for ...

Journal of Clinical …, 2005

International …, 2008

Background: With the number of older drivers increasing, self-regulation of driving has been prop... more Background: With the number of older drivers increasing, self-regulation of driving has been proposed as a viable means of balancing the autonomy of older adults against the sometimes competing demand of public safety. In this study, we investigate self-regulation of driving among a group of older adults with varying functional abilities. Method: Participants in the study comprised 1,543 drivers aged 75 years or older. They completed an objective measure of visual attention from which crash risk was estimated, and self-report measures of driving avoidance, driving exposure, physical functioning, general health status, and vision. Crash records were obtained from the State Department of Public Safety. Results: Overall, participants were most likely to avoid driving in bad weather followed by driving at night, driving on high traffic roads, driving in unfamiliar areas, and making left-hand turns across oncoming traffic. With the exception of driving at night, drivers at higher risk of crashes generally reported greater avoidance of these driving situations than lower risk drivers. However, across all driving situations a significant proportion of higher risk drivers did not restrict their driving. In general, self-regulation of driving did not result in reduced social engagement. Conclusion: Some older drivers with visual attention impairments do not restrict their driving in difficult situations. There is a need for physicians and family members to discuss driving behaviors with older adults routinely to ensure their safety. The association between visual attention and driving restriction also has implications for interventions aimed at preserving mobility in the elderly.

Rehabilitation …, 2007

... Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ozioma C. Okonkwo, MA, Departme... more ... Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ozioma C. Okonkwo, MA, Department of Psychology, CH 415, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham ... Calvanio, R., Williams, R., Burke, DT, Mello, J., Lepak, P., Al-Adawi, S., et ...

Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology, 2013

Objectives: There are few methods to discern driving risks in patients with early dementia and mi... more Objectives: There are few methods to discern driving risks in patients with early dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We aimed to determine whether structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hippocampus—a biomarker of probable Alzheimer pathology and a measure of disease severity in those affected—is linked to objective ratings of on-road driving performance in older adults with and without amnestic MCI. Methods: In all, 49 consensus-diagnosed participants from an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (15 diagnosed with amnestic MCI and 34 demographically similar controls) underwent structural MRI and on-road driving assessments. Results: Mild atrophy of the left hippocampus was associated with less-than-optimal ratings in lane control but not with other discrete driving skills. Decrements in left hippocampal volume conferred higher risk for less-than-optimal lane control ratings in the patients with MCI (B = −1.63, standard error [SE] = .74, Wald = 4.85, P = .028), ...

… journal of geriatric …, 2006