How older adults learn to trust others and avoid being exploited
Characterizing and modulating neurocognitive processes of learning to trust and distrust in aging
Researchers will try training methods to help older adults, including people with early signs of Alzheimer's, learn who to trust so they are less likely to be exploited.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11358407 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in game-like tasks that measure how you learn to trust or distrust different people, using two interactive decision tasks called the Social Iowa Gambling Task and the Florida-Arizona Gambling Task. The team will compare healthy older adults with people who have subjective cognitive decline or a family history of Alzheimer's to see how learning and brain responses differ. Some visits will include measurements of brain activity and memory and social-emotional processing to understand the underlying mechanisms. After the initial testing, some participants will receive training designed to change how they learn about others' trustworthiness to see if those skills can be improved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults, especially those with subjective memory concerns or a family history of Alzheimer's disease, as well as healthy older adults willing to participate in behavioral testing and training.
Not a fit: People with advanced Alzheimer's dementia or severe cognitive impairment are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to training or interventions that help older adults make safer social and financial decisions and reduce vulnerability to fraud.
How similar studies have performed: Related decision-making and training programs have shown promise for improving financial decisions in older adults, but applying trust-learning training to reduce exploitation is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebner, Natalie C — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Ebner, Natalie C
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 below.