Risk, reward, and economic decision making in aging.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Older adults' decision quality is considered to be worse than that of younger adults. This age-related difference is often attributed to reductions in risk tolerance. Little is known about the circumstances that affect older adults' decisions and whether risk attitudes directly influence economic decisions. We measure the influence of risk attitudes on age-related differences in decision making in both nonsocial and social contexts.

Methods

Risk attitudes and economic decision making were measured in 30 healthy older adults and 29 healthy younger adults.

Results

Older adults report being less impulsive, sensation seeking and risk tolerant than younger adults. Age did not affect a measure of nonsocial economic decision making. Older adults were more likely t

SUBMITTER: Roalf DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3325085 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature