Cognitive ability, not age, predicts risky decisions

July, 2010

A new study provides evidence that it's not age per se that affects the quality of decision-making, but individual differences in processing speed and memory.

A study involving 54 older adults (66-76) and 58 younger adults (18-35) challenges the idea that age itself causes people to become more risk-averse and to make poorer decisions. Analysis revealed that it is individual differences in processing speed and memory that affect decision quality, not age. The stereotype has arisen no doubt because more older people process slowly and have poorer memory. The finding points to the need to identify ways in which to present information that reduces the demand on memory or the need to process information very quickly, to enable those in need of such help (both young and old) to make the best choices. Self-knowledge also helps — recognizing if you need to take more time to make a decision.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/dumc-can060110.php

Reference: 

[1620] Henninger, D. E., Madden D. J., & Huettel S. A.
(2010).  Processing speed and memory mediate age-related differences in decision making..
Psychology and Aging. 25(2), 262 - 270.

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