Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Leveraging Behavioral Economics to Understand and Improve Financial Decision Making Among Vulnerable Older Adults (Discovery)

United States400 participantsStarted 2026-08-01

Plain-language summary

This study seeks to: * Identify behavioral preference patterns that characterize older adults vulnerable to financial exploitation. * Estimate the extent to which biases in decision-making process influence financial decisions among older adults vulnerable to financial exploitation to refine information content and behavioral 'nudge' strategies.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults over the age of 60 * English speakers, to ensure comprehension of study tasks Exclusion Criteria: * Less than age 60 * Non-English speaker

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Frequency of choosing the riskier option on the risk tolerance decision-making task

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making task (about 5-10 minutes)

Frequency of choosing the more trusting option on the trust decision-making task

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making task (about 5-10 minutes)

Frequency of choosing the more altruistic option on the altruism decision-making task

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making task (about 5-10 minutes)

Frequency of choosing the more patient option on the impatience decision-making task

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making task (about 5-10 minutes)

Frequency of choosing the less loss-averse option on the loss-aversion decision-making task

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making task (about 5-10 minutes)

Physiological arousal as measured via heart rate

Timeframe: During the time of the decision-making tasks (about 20-40 minutes)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07682727

SponsorThe University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2027-12-01

Contact for this trial

Abdelaziz Alsharawy, PhD

(713) 500-9000 Abdelaziz.Alsharawy@uth.tmc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Financial Exploitation of Older Adults trials