Is there a gene that predisposes car drivers to suffer accidents? According to Dr. Steven Cramer, Neurology Associate Professor at the University of California in Irvine’s (UCI) School of Medicine, the answer is yes.
A recent study published in Cerebral Cortex Journal and conducted by UCI neurology experts reveals that carriers of a gene variant averaged 20-percent lower scores in simulator-based driving tests. Four days later, the same people hadn’t improved at all during a second try.
The study claims that one American out of three carries this gene variant which limits the availability of a protein that’s vital for the brain in memory-related tasks.
"These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away," says Dr. Cramer, senior author of the study. "I'd be curious to know the genetics of people who get into car crashes. I wonder if the accident rate is higher for drivers with the variant."
The test group included only 29 participants, seven of whom were carrying the faulty gene.
There’s a silver lining, however. Separate studies indeed show that these people remain mentally sound longer than others suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
photo:Steve Zylius / University of California (Irvine) Communications, Newspress
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| Dr. Steven Cramer, a neurologist at UCI, specialises in brain repair after stroke and brain remodeling. He’s also the co-writer of a study suggesting that bad driving may in part be genetically based! |
A recent study published in Cerebral Cortex Journal and conducted by UCI neurology experts reveals that carriers of a gene variant averaged 20-percent lower scores in simulator-based driving tests. Four days later, the same people hadn’t improved at all during a second try.
The study claims that one American out of three carries this gene variant which limits the availability of a protein that’s vital for the brain in memory-related tasks.
"These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away," says Dr. Cramer, senior author of the study. "I'd be curious to know the genetics of people who get into car crashes. I wonder if the accident rate is higher for drivers with the variant."
The test group included only 29 participants, seven of whom were carrying the faulty gene.
There’s a silver lining, however. Separate studies indeed show that these people remain mentally sound longer than others suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
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| According to the study, one American out of three carries the "bad driver" gene. |
photo:Steve Zylius / University of California (Irvine) Communications, Newspress