Aging is often accompanied by an increased prevalence of diseases and chronic disorders, posing challenges for older adults. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that profoundly affects memory, cognitive abilities, and emotional functioning. This study aimed to compare risky decision-making and empathy ability in individuals with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s and cognitively healthy individuals. The present research followed a causal-comparative design. The study population included cognitively healthy individuals and those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (aged 65 and above) residing in Rasht during 2023-2024. The research sample consisted of 37 cognitively healthy individuals, 31 individuals with mild Alzheimer’s, and 37 individuals with moderate Alzheimer’s, selected through convenience sampling based on specialist diagnoses and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) by Folstein and McHugh. Data collection involved the Iowa Gambling Task and the Empathy Quotient questionnaire by Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate variance analysis via SPSS version 27. Results indicated significant differences in risky decision-making among individuals with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s and cognitively healthy individuals (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in empathy ability among the three groups (P > 0.05). This study demonstrated that individuals with moderate Alzheimer’s exhibited poorer decision-making in high-risk situations compared to cognitively healthy individuals. However, unlike other cognitive and social abilities, empathy remained relatively intact in Alzheimer’s patients, with participants displaying similar levels of empathy to those of cognitively healthy individuals. The findings underscore the importance of addressing the specific needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and developing appropriate strategies to enhance their quality of life and social interactions.
Kashef, P., abolghasemi, A., & Khosrojavid, M. (2025). The Comparison of Risky Decision-Making and Empathy Abilities in Alzheimer’s Patients and Healthy Older Adults. Aging Psychology, 11(1), 59-43. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11391.1817
MLA
Parvin Kashef; abbas abolghasemi; Mahnaz Khosrojavid. "The Comparison of Risky Decision-Making and Empathy Abilities in Alzheimer’s Patients and Healthy Older Adults". Aging Psychology, 11, 1, 2025, 59-43. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11391.1817
HARVARD
Kashef, P., abolghasemi, A., Khosrojavid, M. (2025). 'The Comparison of Risky Decision-Making and Empathy Abilities in Alzheimer’s Patients and Healthy Older Adults', Aging Psychology, 11(1), pp. 59-43. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11391.1817
VANCOUVER
Kashef, P., abolghasemi, A., Khosrojavid, M. The Comparison of Risky Decision-Making and Empathy Abilities in Alzheimer’s Patients and Healthy Older Adults. Aging Psychology, 2025; 11(1): 59-43. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11391.1817
)