People with memory loss can indeed be at a higher risk of causing car accidents due to their impaired cognitive functions, which affect their ability to drive safely. Memory loss, especially when linked to medical conditions such as dementia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), can compromise critical driving skills including attention, decision-making, reaction time, and spatial awareness.
Memory loss often results from underlying neurological conditions. For example, dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is characterized by progressive cognitive decline that impairs memory, judgment, and the ability to process information quickly. Studies show that older adults with cognitive decline are more prone to falls and injuries, which can also accelerate dementia progression, further worsening their cognitive abilities[1]. This decline directly impacts driving safety because driving requires continuous memory recall and quick responses to changing road conditions.
Traumatic brain injury is another significant cause of memory loss that can increase accident risk. Research indicates that road traffic injuries are a leading cause of TBI among older adults, and the severity of the injury correlates with worse outcomes, including prolonged loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia[2]. These impairments can reduce a person’s ability to remember routes, traffic rules, or react appropriately to hazards, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a form of dementia caused by repeated head trauma, also leads to cognitive impairments affecting memory, mood, and behavior[3]. People with suspected CTE may experience difficulties that interfere with everyday activities such as driving. Although CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem, its symptoms can be severe enough to impair safe driving during life.
Medical conditions causing memory loss often affect other cognitive domains essential for driving, such as attention, executive function, and visuospatial skills. For example, transient epileptic amnesia involves sudden but temporary loss of short-term memory, which could cause confusion and disorientation while driving[5]. Even mild cognitive impairments can delay reaction times or cause errors in judgment, increasing accident risk.
The risk of car accidents among people with memory loss is compounded by the fact that memory impairment may not be immediately obvious to the individual or their family. This can delay diagnosis and intervention. Experts recommend cognitive screening for older adults who have experienced falls or head injuries, as these events may signal underlying cognitive decline that could affect driving safety[1].
Preventive measures include regular medical evaluations, cognitive testing, and, when necessary, restrictions or modifications on driving privileges. Supportive strategies such as driving assessments by occupational therapists and the use of alternative transportation can help reduce accident risk for those with memory impairments.
In summary, memory loss caused by medical conditions like dementia, traumatic brain injury, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy significantly increases the risk of car accidents. This is due to the critical role memory and other cognitive functions play in safe driving. Medical professionals emphasize early detection and management of cognitive impairments to protect both the individual and public safety on the roads.
Sources:
[1] Yu Qing Huang, Manav V. Vyas, Susan E. Bronskill, et al: “Rate of incident dementia and care needs among older adults with new traumatic brain injury: a population-based cohort study.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, October 6, 2025
[2] Rahman et al., “Health outcomes and health-seeking behaviour following traumatic brain injury among older people in Bangladesh,” PMC, 2025
[3] Dementia Australia, “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) dementia,” 2025
[5] NIH, “Transient epileptic amnesia: temporal progression of partially reversible memory loss,” PMC
