Decision-making competence in older adults: A rosy view from a longitudinal investigation

Psychol Aging. 2020 Jun;35(4):553-564. doi: 10.1037/pag0000443. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Abstract

Cross-sectional studies have suggested age-related differences in decision-making competence, but these differences may also reflect cohort-related effects. We present a longitudinal study of age-related changes over 5 years in older adults (aged 60-85) for 3 important aspects of decision-making competence: resistance to framing, applying decision rules, and resistance to sunk costs. The findings show small age-related longitudinal declines in resistance to framing but no decline in applying decision rules or resistance to sunk costs. The results also indicate that individuals' decision-making competence after 5 years is significantly related to their initial decision-making competence assessment and that the contribution of crystallized abilities to decision making in older adults is greater than previously thought. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged