Cognitive and visual predictors of UFOV performance in older adults

• We used relative importance regression to assess cognitive predictors of UFOV performance.
• UFOV is sensitive to attentional and speed processes.
• Subtest 1 reflects low-level visual functioning.
• Subtest 2 reflects change detection and processing speed.
• Subtest 3 reflects crowding and contrast sensitivity.

Eighty two community dwelling older adults (52 females) aged 62–92 years (mean = 75) completed a battery of cognitive and visual tests selected to assess functions relevant to driving performance. These were visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, general mental competence (Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE), processing speed (Inspection Time, IT), crowding across the visual field (Proficiency of Peripheral Vision Processing, ProPerVis) and change detection (DriverScan). These six tasks provided predictor variables for performance on the Useful Field of View test (UFOV), a well validated test of fitness to drive that includes subtests for (i) processing speed; (ii) divided attention; and (iii) selective attention. Relative importance regression analyses confirmed that UFOV is sensitive to attentional and speed processes but suggested that subtest (i) primarily reflects visual acuity and contrast sensitivity; subtest (ii) is better explained by change detection and processing speed; and subtest (iii) predominantly reflects crowding and contrast sensitivity. Unexpectedly, given no evidence of substantial cognitive decline, MMSE contributed significantly to performance on the more complex subtests (ii) and (iii).

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