Bad driving could be in the genes

Genetics might be to blame for poor driving, according to a new study from the University of California Irvine. People with a gene variant performed 20% worse on a driving test than those without the variant, neuroscientists at the University found. A follow-up test a few days later yielded the same results. The gene variant limits the availability of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) — a protein — during activity. This protein keeps memory strong by supporting communication among brain cells and keeping them functioning optimally. When a person is engaged in a particular task, BDNF is secreted in the brain area connected with that activity to help the body respond, according to the release. “We wanted to study motor behavior, something more complex than finger-tapping,” Stephanie McHughen, graduate student and lead author of the study, said in the release. “Driving seemed like a good choice because it has a learning curve and it’s something most people know how to do.”The driving test was taken by 29 people. Of those 22 did not have the gene variant and seven did. Participants were asked to drive 15 laps on a simulator that required them to learn the nuances of a track programmed to have difficult curves and turns. How well they stayed on the course over time was recordedThe test was repeated four days later. Results showed that people with the variant did worse on both tests than the other participants, and they remembered less the second time.