A scoping review of emotion and non-cognitive measures of decision-making ability in older adults by the ARMCADA study.

The scoping review identified 232 articles and 143 unique emotion and non-cognitive decision-making measures used in aging samples between 2018 and 2023.

• Systematic search conducted across six databases: Embase (Elsevier), MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (EbscoHost), Cochrane Library, Web of Science (Clarivate), and Scopus (Elsevier)
• Studies published between January 2018 and November 2023 were included
• Two-stage sample selection process: independent screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text review and data extraction
• Final dataset included 232 articles containing 143 unique emotion and non-cognitive (ENC) decision-making measures

The five most frequently used emotion and non-cognitive decision-making measures were the Iowa Gambling Task, Balloon Analogue Risk Task, Delay Discounting Task, Decisional Conflict Scale, and Cambridge Gambling Task.

• These measures were identified from among 143 unique ENC decision-making measures found across the 232 articles
• The measures span both behavioral task-based assessments and self-report scales
• These top measures reflect a field-wide preference for particular established instruments over newer or less-validated tools

The most common decision-making measures reflect a preference for assessing risk-taking and impulsivity in the sphere of non-cognitive and emotion function.

• This trend was observed across the full sample of 232 articles
• Similar trends were found in clinical samples of older adults with neurodegenerative diseases
• Risk-taking and impulsivity domains dominated the measurement landscape for emotion and non-cognitive decision-making

Studies using these measures were distributed across clinical, normative, and mixed sample types, with the largest proportion using both clinical and non-clinical samples.

• 28% of manuscripts used measures with a clinical sample
• 26% of manuscripts used measures with a normative adult sample
• 47% of manuscripts used measures with both clinical and non-clinical samples

Decision-making is described as a complex cognitive function that declines with age and is highly susceptible to impairment from dementia due to Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases.

• The ARMCADA (Advancing Reliable Measurement in Cognitive Aging and Decision-making Ability) research initiative was formed to understand how measures of emotion and non-cognitive influences of decision-making have been used in research and clinical settings
• Emotions and other non-cognitive assets are also believed to influence decision-making ability
• The review sought to inform development of reliable and validated measurement of decision-making among older adults