Does regular driving have a positive impact on the PD?

[Esperanto]

When diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, an important question from patients is often “Can I still drive?” The dangers to road safety are almost always taken into account. A lot of attention is rightly paid to that, but I don't see any information about the possible effects on the PD symptoms themselves. On the one hand, it could improve motor skills, coordination and balance. Perhaps also the cognitive skills through multitasking and need to react quickly. On the other hand, participation in traffic also often causes a lot of stress and long car trips are much more tiring than before. Has this been researched? But I would also like to hear the opinion of any experience experts here about the longer-term effects of this kind of “exercise”.

[Gcf51]

Ask the MD: Driving and Parkinson's Disease

michaeljfox.org/news/ask-md...

[PowerJones]

"On the one hand, it could improve motor skills, coordination and balance. Perhaps also the cognitive skills through multitasking and need to react quickly"

Perhaps you would want to use a driving simulator for improving motor skills. You shouldn't be using driving on a real road to improve someone's motor skills, balance, cognitive skills and multitasking ability.. A driver on a real road should not suffer any deficiencies in this areas to begin with. Get yourself a driving simulator. There you can safely practice and improve as much as you want.

But if you're very early with diagnosis and symptoms are very mild, then balance, coordination, cognitive and multitasking issues wouldn't have set in then. I believe you can drive locally. Not on motorway though as you never know when stress can set in

[Stillstandingstill in reply to PowerJones]

Bit of a sweeping statement there. I'm still a competent driver and will continue using motorways until I feel that my driving is impaired.

[PowerJones in reply to Stillstandingstill]

I wasn't addressing you but was addressing the person who sought advice who I believe is Esperanto . So you can do whatever you want as you please, that's non of my business

Even if Esperanto says same as you, I will stand by what I stated

[Esperanto]

A lot has already been written about driving safety on HU. It is certainly wise to ask your MD advice. But I can't find anything about the impact of driving on your PD In addition to the happiness of freedom, not unimportant for your dopamine production, requires driving multiple brain processes working simultaneously, as the link above states: “

Cognition (memory and thinking): remembering your route, destination and where you parked; making decisions such as when to stop at a light and when to get gas; and reaction time

Movement: getting in and out of the car, steering, shifting and turning your head when backing up

Hearing: listening for sirens, beeps and other pertinent alerts while tuning out background noise

Sensation: feeling the gas pedal and brake, and knowing how much pressure to apply to each

Vision: reading road signs and seeing pedestrians and cars in front of and around you”

Of course if any of these items are not functioning or malfunctioning you should provide a tool or consider stopping and buy a driving simulator. I myself sometimes experience that it can be a good training, a kind of mindfulness, about being in the present moment. You are continuously aware of three things: your body, what you see, and what you hear. In fact the safest way to drive, even when you don’t have PD. However, as soon as I am forced to drive at busy times with traffic jams and hectic situations or with fellow passengers, driving can become a stressful affair. So I'm talking about driving that unites the useful with the pleasant with relaxation as a kind of bycatch and not the daily grind to get to work on time. if not needed a simulator is safer and cheaper. Perhaps more stressful? 🙂

[WinnieThePoo in reply to Esperanto]

I take it you are aware that a clarification of last years law in France means you are no longer automatically required to have an examination for fitness to drive at the Prefecture on diagnosis

franceparkinson.fr/vivre-av...

[Esperanto in reply to WinnieThePoo]

No, this turns out very recently from April 26. Very good news. I knew objections had been raised, but this exceeds my expectations. Thanks for the info! You're going to be a little more comfortable behind the wheel of the car...or perhaps even a space vehicle 🙂

[BigTexan]

Rich Clifford flew a few space missions with PD. Depends on your symptoms and reaction time.

parkinson.org/living-with-p...

[Stillstandingstill in reply to BigTexan]

You put it better than I did

[kaypeeoh]

A man I see at Tai Chi class has PD with tremor in both hands. He still works delivering restaurant supplies and drives to class. Beware letting anyone ask for your license. I failed a driving test that did not involve actual driving and had to argue to keep them from taking my license. Now I understand why I failed the test. It's been two years and I still can't get my wife or doctors to give me back my keys. I do difficult crossword puzzles and practice handwriting. I do a lot to keep my mind functioning. I drive a motorcycle since they won't let me drive my car. If they're worried I might cause an accident at least there's less chance of injuring someone--other than myself--on a cycle. I think it' s a case of nocebo: The opposite of placebo. The doctor says I have problems so I start to believe I have problems. But I have no balance issues. I don't freeze-in-place or have slowness--bradykinesia. Several doctors have said I'm fine but not the one doctor who my wife believes. I repeated the non-driving driving test a year ago. They said I passed the test but still don't want me to drive. I assume they're worried that sometime IN THE FUTURE I might be a problem on the road. My physical health is good; Normal BP, etc. The photo of my handwriting is bad but I've always had bad handwriting. MY point is I can read what's written. It's notes on how to get to Tai Chi class from my home.

ph

[Farooqji in reply to kaypeeoh]

I don't think it's a bad handwriting. It's fairly good. What's important is your writing speed and ability to continuously write a full page or so.

[kaypeeoh in reply to Farooqji]

Thanks for the note. These days there is no reason to write a full page of anything. I took typing class in the 9th grade and still type much faster than I can write long-hand.

[Esperanto in reply to kaypeeoh]

With driving I think less about the quality of my handwriting and making crossword puzzles. More about traffic insight and reaction speed. The fact that you can ride your motorcycle actually indicates that that is still okay. I've never worked with a driving simulator, but I can imagine that it can more or less give some kind of indication of whether it is still justified. Annoying situation for you, because the longer you do not practice, the more difficult it becomes to drive yourself. Assuming you in advance that someone with PD can no longer drive is ridiculous.

Unfortunately, that is also the case with many other activities, when you see that anxious look in people's eyes: will that go well? And then say in advance ‘let me just do it...’, While practising practising and practising should be the motto, to maintain our skills.

[Waxbeans]

It has had a significant impact on my driving. Extremely aware of more caution required around busy intersections There is definitely a loss of situational awareness and reaction time. Serious personal review required to drive responsibility/safely as my PD progresses. Nobody likes to consider losing there driving privileges but a private and responsible thing to do if,, it becomes a clear issue.

[bassofspades]

sometimes a little tremor in my right foot shakes the accelerator. It’s annoying but I don’t feel like I’m not in control or anything. I dread the day that I won’t be able to drive anymore. I just bought a new car and I really like it. But as for your question, it does seem to me that the longer I drive, the smoother my movements get. I could be shaky when I first start driving but as time goes on, it eventually goes away, completely.

Bass-mobile

[Gymsack]

With the rise in understanding and recognizing of Parkinson's comes earlier diagnoses and I do believe that at first diagnose the PD progression is small enough to still facilitate safe driving. It may be that the first five years are safe in most cases but it can depend on which medication you can take because medication side effects are contributing factor and you know to be wrong would be disastrous and because the possible consequence is multiple death and injury it is necessary to error on the side of caution.

The very best judge of your abilities and if you would endanger everyone else is your Neurologist . In Ontario Canada the Neuro is legally bound to report any patient who they believe is a risk for public safety to the Licence Burrow (govt) . There is an appeal process that involves tests and many do get their licence back and all people regardless of health must take driving tests at 80 years.

I know personally the complete change in my life that accompanied the loss of my driving skills and my licence which I had worked so hard for so many years ago. It is a complete loss of freedom and an indignity.

I also know that the car that hit the drugstore front window flew in at an increasing speed with the engine at maximum RPM and the elderly driver was adamant that she was pressing on the brake pedal as hard as she could and it would not stop. Engine parts laying on cash registers but unbelievably no one hurt, much. You have to ask yourself what if I kill somebody .

GymBag

[Esperanto]

Actually, it's a more general question. Obviously, safety is paramount when it comes to driving or engaging in any other activities, both for yourself and others. But if that is ensured, the question is whether it is good as training for your brain and body. Essentially, you are constantly weighing the stress/exhaustion that an activity/training brings in the long run, and whether it is "healthy" for you, both mentally and physically. In reality, I notice that after a 5-hour drive, I need to recover the next day and take it easy. But the same applies to a social activity like having dinner with my French neighbors. That is also top sport. French is not my native language, and it's a marathon session with fantastic food and good 🍷 So the question is whether "top sport-like" activities that have such an impact, requiring a day of rest, are wise. Is it better to cherish my stress-free hermit life that I lead here even more, or are these stimuli important?