How Decision Making Changes in Early Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Epidemiologic Study of Decision Making in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11006300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how older adults make decisions, particularly in financial and health matters, and how these abilities might change with early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2009 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $707,154 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG033678-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults interested in understanding how decision-making abilities change with age and in relation to brain health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not interested in participating in observational studies focused on cognitive and decision-making changes may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Older adults often face tough decisions, and sometimes their ability to make good choices declines, even before memory problems are obvious. This project looks at why some older adults, including those who seem cognitively healthy, might make poor decisions and be vulnerable to scams. Researchers are following over 1,300 older adults annually, observing their financial and health decision-making skills. They are also examining brain changes, like those seen in Alzheimer's disease, to understand how these changes might affect decision-making. The goal is to understand the link between decision-making abilities, brain health, and the risk of developing conditions like dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand why decision-making changes in older adults and potentially identify those at risk for poor decisions or future dementia earlier.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on initial findings from the same research team, which reported that poor decision-making is linked to increased risk of dementia and brain changes.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyle, Patricia a — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Boyle, Patricia a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving decision-making support for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias
This work explores how a method called 'supported decision making' can help people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias make their own health choices and feel better.
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Improving decision-making for personalized care in Alzheimer's and diabetes patients
This study is all about finding better ways for older adults with Alzheimer's and diabetes to work together with their doctors to make personalized care decisions, using new technologies to improve communication and teamwork.
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How Alzheimer's disease affects decision-making in mice
This study looks at how Alzheimer's disease affects the way mice make decisions, especially as they get older and considering their gender, to find ways that might help improve decision-making skills in people with Alzheimer's.
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Understanding how culture influences decision-making in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
This study looks at how different cultures influence the experiences of people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, aiming to create helpful tools that make it easier for everyone involved in their care to understand and manage the condition better.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.