Decision-making competence in younger and older adults: which cognitive abilities contribute to the application of decision rules?

When making decisions, humans employ different strategies which are commonly formalized as model-free and model-based reinforcement learning. While previous research has reported reduced model-based control with aging, it remains unclear whether this is due to limited cognitive capacities or a reduced willingness to engage in an effortful strategy. Moreover, it is not clear how aging affects the metacontrol of decision making, i.e. the dynamic adaptation of decision-making strategies to varying situational demands. To this end, we tested younger and older adults in a sequential decision-making task that dissociates model-free and model-based control. In contrast to previous research, in this study we applied a task in which model-based control led to higher payoffs in terms of monetary reward. Moreover, we manipulated the costs and benefits associated with model-based control by varying reward magnitude as well as the stability of the task structure. Compared to younger adults, older adults showed reduced reliance on model-based decision making and less adaptation of decision-making strategies to varying costs and benefits of model-based control. Our findings suggest that aging affects the dynamic metacontrol of decision-making strategies and that reduced model-based control in older adults is due to limited cognitive abilities to represent the structure of the task.

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Metacontrol of decision-making strategies in human aging

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.49154 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Florian Bolenz ◽

Wouter Kool ◽

Andrea MF Reiter ◽

Ben Eppinger

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Reduced Model ◽

Task Structure ◽

Sequential Decision ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Model Based ◽

Model Free

Humans employ different strategies when making decisions. Previous research has reported reduced reliance on model-based strategies with aging, but it remains unclear whether this is due to cognitive or motivational factors. Moreover, it is not clear how aging affects the metacontrol of decision making, that is the dynamic adaptation of decision-making strategies to varying situational demands. In this cross-sectional study, we tested younger and older adults in a sequential decision-making task that dissociates model-free and model-based strategies. In contrast to previous research, model-based strategies led to higher payoffs. Moreover, we manipulated the costs and benefits of model-based strategies by varying reward magnitude and the stability of the task structure. Compared to younger adults, older adults showed reduced model-based decision making and less adaptation of decision-making strategies. Our findings suggest that aging affects the metacontrol of decision-making strategies and that reduced model-based strategies in older adults are due to limited cognitive abilities.

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Age Differences in Information Use While Making Decisions

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415016668355 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 24-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joy M. Jacobs-Lawson ◽

Mitzi M. Schumacher ◽

Sarah B. Wackerbarth

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Young Adults ◽

Information Processing ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Age Difference ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Processing Resources ◽

Processing Difference

Recent research on the decision-making abilities of older adults has shown that they use less information than young adults. One explanation ascribes this age difference to reductions in cognitive abilities with age. The article includes three experimental studies that focused on determining the conditions in which older and young adults would display dissimilar information processing characteristics. Findings from Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that older adults are not necessarily at greater disadvantage than young adults in decision contexts that demand more information processing resources. Findings from Study 3 indicated that older adults when faced with decisions that require greater processing are likely to use a strategy that reduces the amount of information needed, whereas younger adults rely on strategies that utilize more resources. Combined the findings indicate that older adults change their decision-making strategies based on the context and information provided. Furthermore, support is provided for processing difference.

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Review of Decision-Making in Game Tasks in Elderly Participants with Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders ◽

10.1159/000455120 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (1-2) ◽

pp. 81-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Alaise Silva Santos de Siqueira ◽

Juliana Emy Yokomizo ◽

Wilson Jacob-Filho ◽

Mônica Sanches Yassuda ◽

Ivan Aprahamian

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

At Risk ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Alzheimer Disease ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Clinical Value ◽

Everyday Functioning

Background: Changes in decision-making (DM) have recently been investigated in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). DM is highly relevant to everyday functioning and autonomy. It relies on several cognitive abilities, such as semantic and episodic memory, as well as aspects of executive functioning. We conducted a systematic review of DM in older adults with MCI and AD. Summary: Only 5 studies whose main objective was to evaluate the DM performance were selected. The results extracted indicated that DM in ambiguity and in at-risk situations are both impaired in probable AD patients. MCI patients have difficulty making advantageous decisions under ambiguity and at risk, similar to patients with probable AD but they are less impaired. Key Messages: DM deficits may be a predictor of cognitive impairment and conversion to dementia and its potential clinical value should be further explored in longitudinal studies involving direct comparison between MCI and AD patients.

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Investigating Older Adults’ Willingness to Invest Time to Acquire Technology Skills Using a Discounting Approach

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab017 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph Sharit ◽

Jerad H Moxley ◽

Sara J Czaja

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Perceived Value ◽

Technology Readiness ◽

Technology Skills ◽

Additional Time ◽

Skill Levels ◽

Technology Products ◽

Novel Approach

Abstract Background and Objectives Delay discounting is a common behavioral phenomenon that can influence decision making. A person with a higher discounting rate will have a stronger preference for smaller, more immediate rewards over larger, delayed rewards than will a person with a lower discounting rate. This study used a novel approach to investigate, among a diverse sample of older adults, discounting of the time people were willing to invest to acquire technology skills across various technologies. Research Design and Methods One hundred and eighty-seven male and female adults 65-92 years of age participated in the study and were given presentations on five different technologies spanning domains that included transportation, leisure, health, and new learning. A measure of discounting was computed based on participants’ assessments of how much additional time they would be willing to spend to acquire increased skill levels on each of the technologies and their ratings of importance of attaining those skill levels. Measures of participants’ perceived value of the technologies, technology readiness, and self-assessed cognitive abilities were also collected. Results The findings indicated a significant and robust effect of lower discounting rates with increasing age. Higher perceived value of the technologies and higher levels of positive technology readiness predicted willingness to invest more time to learn the technologies, whereas self-assessments of cognitive abilities predicted the levels of technology skills that participants desired on the five technologies. Discussion and Implications Our findings demonstrate that for realistic decision-making scenarios related to the acquisition of technology skills, discounting rates decrease with increasing age, even within an older adult cohort, and that discounting is related to the perceived value of the technology. The findings also have important implications for the design and marketing of technology products for older consumers.

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