How stroke affects driving performance and safety
Official title: Driving Performance after Stroke: Impact of Cognition, Lesion Site, and Driver-Assist Features
Funded at VA Northern California Health Care Sys · NIH-11073090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a stroke affects Veterans' driving skills using a special driving simulator, aiming to understand how brain changes impact their ability to drive safely, so we can help them get back on the road confidently.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Northern California Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mather, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX001879-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans who have experienced a stroke and are seeking to evaluate their driving capabilities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had a stroke or those who do not drive may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how stroke impacts the ability of Veterans to drive safely by evaluating their driving skills using a state-of-the-art driving simulator. The study focuses on understanding the relationship between cognitive abilities, the location of brain lesions, and driving performance. By assessing various driving skills, the research aims to identify specific cognitive deficits that may affect driving safety, ultimately leading to tailored evaluations and interventions for stroke survivors. The findings could help ensure that Veterans can safely return to driving after experiencing a stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the safety and independence of stroke survivors by providing targeted assessments and interventions for driving.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that driving simulators can effectively assess driving performance in stroke patients, indicating a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Northern California Health Care Sys
Mather, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parker, Krista Schendel — VA Northern California Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Parker, Krista Schendel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.