Cognitive, social, and neural determinants of diminished decision-making and financial exploitation risk in aging and dementia: A review and new model

ABSTRACT

In this article we will briefly review how changes in brain and in cognitive and social functioning, across the spectrum from normal to pathological aging, can lead to decision-making impairments that increase abuse risk in many life domains (e.g., health care, social engagement, financial management). The review will specifically focus on emerging research identifying neural, cognitive, and social markers of declining financial decision-making capacity in older adults. We will highlight how these findings are opening avenues for early detection and new interventions to reduce exploitation risk.

KEYWORDS:

• Capacity assessment
• decision making
• elder abuse
• financial capacity
• financial exploitation

Acknowledgment

This article is based on the proceedings of the National Institutes of Health workshop on October, 30, 2015: Multiple Approaches to Understanding and Preventing Elder Abuse.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Alzheimer’s Association (NIRG-14-320049) and a grant from the Elder Justice Foundation to R.N.S, grants from the NIA (P30: AG01024) and CDC (HBRN: U48 DP 005006, 005002, 005053, 005000, and 005013) to J.K. and a grant from NIA (R01 AG21927) to D.C.M.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Alzheimer’s Association (NIRG-14-320049) and a grant from the Elder Justice Foundation to R.N.S, grants from the NIA (P30: AG01024) and CDC (HBRN: U48 DP 005006, 005002, 005053, 005000, and 005013) to J.K. and a grant from NIA (R01 AG21927) to D.C.M.