Understanding how older adults' beliefs affect their financial decisions
Official title: Characterizing the role of confirmation bias in financial exploitation of older adults
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-10899057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how older adults, especially those with memory issues like Alzheimer's, might be more likely to trust information that matches their beliefs when making financial decisions, and it uses a fun online investment game to see how their thinking changes over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $35,660 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AG085934-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing cognitive decline or those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing cognitive decline or are younger adults may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how confirmation bias, the tendency to favor information that aligns with existing beliefs, impacts older adults, particularly in the context of financial exploitation. It aims to explore the relationship between cognitive decline and susceptibility to this bias, especially as it relates to conditions like Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Through an online investment game, participants will engage in activities designed to reveal how cognitive functions influence their decision-making processes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help develop strategies to protect older adults from financial exploitation by understanding their cognitive vulnerabilities.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on confirmation bias in older adults is relatively novel, related research has shown that cognitive decline can increase vulnerability to financial exploitation.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wyngaarden, James — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Wyngaarden, James
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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.