Objective: To examine the association between driving and structural brain volume in older individuals.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 1063 older adults. We examined global brain measures, including gray and white matter volumes and subcortical volume, using the FreeSurfer program. Participants were divided into non-drivers, those who drove < 7 days a week, and every day drivers. They were further classified into a non-driving group, an active group (drove 10 km at least once a week), and a less-active group (drove 10 km less than once a week).
Results: Drivers had a larger hippocampal volume than non-drivers (p = 0.048). Low-frequency drivers had a larger occipital cortex volume than non-drivers and high-frequency drivers (p = 0.007). Active drivers had larger temporal cortex volumes than non-active drivers (p = 0.020), larger cingulate cortex volumes than non-drivers and less-active drivers (p = 0.002), and larger hippocampus volumes than non-drivers (p = 0.019). A post-hoc analysis revealed no significant between-group differences in the amygdala.
Conclusions: Driving was associated with diminished hippocampal brain atrophy in older adults. Active drivers with a larger life space exhibited less brain atrophy in several regions, including the temporal and cingulate cortices.