Introduction: The initial symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include attention deficits, memory loss and deficiencies in topographic and spatial orientation. People with AD may have way-finding difficulties in driving due to the deterioration of their navigation ability. Although the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been proven to be a useful aid for older people in driving, there is no evidence to suggest that the benefit could extend to drivers with AD. Aim: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the GPS in assisting drivers with mild AD in finding their destination safely. Method: Twenty-eight drivers with mild to very mild AD, diagnosed by a general practitioner or a psychogeriatrician, completed all clinical and psychometric assessments including the Mini Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test B and Doors and People Test. During the driving assessment, 3 driving trials with different settings (normal, visual-only and audio-only) of the GPS were administered to all participants. The participants were required to follow instructions from the GPS and perform a variety of driving tasks on a driving simulator. The driving performances of participants were assessed by criteria specific to AD drivers. The driving assessment criteria were first combined to form the overall driving performance score: a higher score indicated a better overall driving performance. The other outcome of this study was the success of participants to navigate to a predetermined destination. Results: The driving performance of participants was different among the 3 settings (F = 72.8, p < 0.001) and the pairwise comparison between the 3 settings was significant (p < 0.001). The driving performance score was highest in the audio-only setting (mean: 20.0, SD: 2.2), moderate in the normal setting (mean: 16.7, SD: 2.6) and lowest in the visual-only setting (mean: 14.3, SD: 3.3). When compared with the visual-only setting, drivers using the audio-only setting (OR: 37.2, 95% CI: 9.2-151.2) and normal setting (OR: 37.2, 95% CI: 4.8-286.9) were more likely to successfully find their destination (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study has found that using single, simple auditory instructions with the absence of the visual output of the GPS could potentially help people with mild AD to improve their driving ability and reach their destination.

These results are important in the planning of transport policies and driver training for individuals with ASD. Driver training manuals can be developed to address anxiety issues, hazard perception and navigation problems in the ASD population. Their use of public transport could be further facilitated through more inclusive transport policies.

The symptomatology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make driving risky, but little is known about the on-road driving behaviour of individuals with ASD. This study assessed and compared the on-road driving performance of drivers with and without ASD, and explored how the symptomatology of ASD hinders or facilitates on-road driving performance. Sixteen drivers with ASD and 21 typically-developed drivers participated in the study. Drivers with ASD underperformed in vehicle manoeuvring, especially at left-turns, right-turns and pedestrian crossings. However, drivers with ASD outperformed the TD group in aspects related to rule-following such as using the indicator at roundabouts and checking for cross-traffic when approaching intersections. Drivers with ASD in the current study presented with a range of capabilities and weaknesses during driving.

Little is known of the impact of stroke on cooperative muscle action of the upper limbs and trunk during occupational tasks. Traditionally, with scant evidence, clinical practice has assumed the nature of stroke-induced disturbances. In response to the lack of research, a series of studies was undertaken to investigate the nature of stroke-induced disturbance on muscle. Surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity was recorded bilaterally and simultaneously from the trunk muscles, rectus abdominis and erector spinae, of 48 stroke and 48 matched neurologically unimpaired individuals during steady-state postures and dynamic stabilisation for reaching and shoe donning. Following this, a second study with 20 stroke and neurologically unimpaired control participants compared paretic and non-paretic muscle activity from the upper trapezius and the anterior deltoid during two reaching tasks, and from biceps and triceps in two functional tasks. Resting SEMG levels in these muscles and the working relationship of muscle pairs were also investigated. Within and between group-repeated measures, anova was used to determine the significance of differences between paretic and non-paretic muscles of the stroke group and matched muscles of the control group during and after these occupational tasks.In the stroke group, paretic rectus abdominis, anterior deltoid and triceps muscles demonstrated less SEMG activity than the non-paretic side and matched sides of the controls during their primary actions. In contrast, erector spinae, upper trapezius and bicep activities of the stroke group were significantly higher than that for the control group during most tasks and at rest afterwards, particularly on the paretic side. Findings indicated that a stroke induced increased activity in some muscles during occupational tasks but not others when engaged in similar roles. Muscles with increased activity had more difficulty returning to resting levels after work. The reduced activity in some muscles and the increased activity in others affected cooperative working relationships. These findings present new evidence concerning the impact of stroke on certain trunk and upper limb muscles, which can enlighten clinical practice. . Supervised by Dr Don Cameron PhD.In Australian society, driving has become a symbol of freedom and independence. Loss of a driving licence may limit an older person's perceived roles in relation to family and fulfilling obligations and expectations. It has been established that driving ability gradually deteriorates with age, prompting concerns regarding appropriate methods to evaluate the driving ability of older drivers. Existing licensing procedures conducted for older drivers typically contain certain elements that will screen 'age' related deficits. To successfully meet the assessment criteria of these procedures, older drivers require good visual acuity and quick reaction time. However, these measures fail to reflect the driving ability of older persons because they are often confounded with chronological age and me...