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Research

Papers

Papers Under Review:

  1. Ho, E., Usta, B. E., Novack, M., Pila, S., Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Mather, M., Dworak, E. M., Hosseinian, Z., Bucko, P., Kaat, A. J., Han, S. D., Lichtenberg, P., Hanmer, J., Miller, C. H., Weintraub, S., & Gershon, R. (under review). Protocol for a multi-domain scoping review to identify measures of decision-making ability in an aging population. BMJ Open.

 

Manuscripts

Manuscripts Under Internal Review:

  1. Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Dworak, E. M., Bucko, P., Ho, E., Usta, B. E., Mather, M., Novack, M., Pila, S., Hosseinian, Z., Hall, L., Gershon, R., & Weintraub, S. (n.d.). Measures of decision-making ability and functional outcomes in older adults: Results from a scoping review in the Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability (ARMCADA) study. [Unpublished manuscript].

 

  1. Novack, M., Bucko, P., Ho, E., Usta, B. E., Burleigh, E., Mather, M., Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Dworak, E. M., Pila, S., Miller, C., Hosseinian, Z., Han, S. D., Lichtenberg, P., Weintraub, S., & Gershon, R. (n.d.). ARMCADA – Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability: Identification, synthesis, and validation of end-of-life decision-making measures. [Unpublished manuscript].

 

  1. Ho, E., Usta, B. E., Bucko, P., Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Dworak, E. M., Mather, M., Novack, M., Pila, S., Miller, C., Hosseinian, Z., Han, S. D., Lichtenberg, P., Weintraub, S., & Gershon, R. (n.d.). A scoping review of financial decision-making ability measures in midlife and beyond: Results from the Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability (ARMCADA) study. [Unpublished manuscript].

 

  1. Mather, M., Usta, B. E., Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Ho, E., Bucko, P., Dworak, E. M., Novack, M., Hosseinian, Z., Hanmer, J., Weintraub, S., & Gershon, R. (n.d.). Measures of healthcare decision-making ability in cognitive aging: A scoping review from the Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability (ARMCADA) study. [Unpublished manuscript].

 

  1. Dworak, E. M., Pila, S., Ho, E., Usta, B. E., Karpouzian-Rogers, T., Mather, M., Novack, M., Hosseinian, Z., Cella, C., Weintraub, S., & Gershon, R. (n.d.). A scoping review of emotion and non-cognitive measures of decision-making ability in older adults by the Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability (ARMCADA) study. [Unpublished manuscript].

Research Areas

Financial Decision-Making (DM)

1. Financial Decision-Making (DM)

The ability to make accurate judgments and have a basic understanding of everyday finances, such as the ability to balance a checkbook or evaluate sums of money. It is known that deficiencies in financial DM are associated with adverse outcomes such as susceptibility to scams and elder abuse. There is both neural and survey evidence that financial exploitation vulnerability exacerbated by poor DM in old age may be an early functional harbinger of cognitive decline, MCI and AD.

 Functional Outcomes

 2. Functional Outcomes

The ability to perform either basic activities of daily living (BADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). BADLs are daily activities individuals do to take care of themselves such as eating, dressing, bathing, or using the bathroom.  Alternatively, IADLs encompass more complex everyday activities such as household chores, finances, health maintenance, driving, and shopping. Performance-based measures of functional outcomes such as BADLs and IADLs include simulation activities (e.g., making change using physical stimuli) and assessments of processing speed when reacting to stimuli. Assessing the full range of BADLs and IADLs is crucial for planning targeted strategies to promote an independent and healthy lifestyle increasing quality of life and general autonomy in old age.

Healthcare Decision-Making

3. Healthcare Decision-Making

Health literacy, or general knowledge about health-related issues. Health literacy has proven to be an important factor for care management. Older adults with lower health literacy demonstrate reduced use of preventive services, higher rates of hospitalization and in general experience worse health and outcomes. A recent systematic review showed that health literacy was comprised of three primary dimensions: (1) general knowledge, (2) processing of health-related information, and (3) ability to maintain health through one’s own initiative.

End-of-Life Decision-Making

4. End-of-Life Decision-Making

The ability and capacity for making or having made end-of life decisions. These questions may include both general instrumental knowledge (e.g., does one know what a will is), to action (e.g., has one drafted a will), and, when applicable, intentionality (e.g., his or her intentions to complete said tasks). Other issues may also include advance directives, legal and financial planning, and, in some cases, end-of-life and palliative care.

Emotion Decision-Making

5. Emotion Decision-Making

An individual’s ability to monitor and influence their emotional state and employ different affective strategies.