Improving decision-making abilities in older adults
Official title: ARMCADA - Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11059165 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to improve how we understand decision-making in older adults who may be having memory or thinking difficulties, so we can help them make safe choices about their health, money, and legal issues before problems arise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,836,522 |
| NIH project number | 5U24AG082022-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059165 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who may be experiencing cognitive decline or are at risk for age-related cognitive impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing any cognitive decline or decision-making difficulties may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the assessment of decision-making abilities in older adults, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline. It aims to create a network that will develop and validate tools to measure how well older individuals can make important decisions related to their health, finances, and legal matters. By identifying cognitive impairments early, the research seeks to prevent negative outcomes such as financial exploitation or inability to consent to medical treatments. The project will involve collaboration among experts to ensure comprehensive evaluation methods are established.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better tools for assessing decision-making capacity in older adults, ultimately improving their quality of life and safeguarding them from potential harm.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early screening for cognitive impairments can significantly improve outcomes for older adults, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gershon, Richard — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Gershon, Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Advancing Reliable Measurement in Thinking and Decision-Making in Older Adults
A network-led effort to improve how we measure decision-making abilities in aging adults, especially related to memory and everyday choices.
-
How Emotions and Aging Affect Health Choices
This project explores how feelings and social connections help older adults make healthy choices, especially regarding exercise, and how this might relate to dementia risk.
-
Understanding decision-making in aging and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how people, especially older adults and those with Alzheimer's, make quick decisions based on information they see, like finding the brightest spot on a circle, to better understand how aging and memory issues affect our choices.
-
Understanding how older adults with Alzheimer's make decisions about living at home
This study is looking at how older adults with Alzheimer's make choices about staying in their homes as they age, and it uses a helpful tool to guide them in planning for their future needs so they can live safely and comfortably.
-
Understanding how octopuses integrate sensory information and make decisions
This study is exploring how octopuses use their arms to grip things by looking closely at their nervous system and movements, which could help us understand their amazing abilities 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.