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Are old people so gentle? Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in the elderly
Fabia Morales-Vives1, Andreu Vigil-Colet
1Research Center for Behavior Assessment, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Psychology, Tarragona, Spain. fabia.morales@urv.cat
International Psychogeriatrics
|August 19, 2011
Summary
Older adults exhibit higher dysfunctional impulsivity due to inhibitory deficits, contrary to common assumptions. This study highlights age-related increases in dysfunctional impulsivity, particularly in women.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Inhibitory deficits are reported in older adults, suggesting potential age-related increases in impulsivity.
- Existing research indicates a link between inhibition processes and impulsivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in elderly individuals with adult and adolescent samples.
- To investigate age-related changes in impulsivity.
Main Methods:
- Administered Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory to 190 participants aged 65-94 without cognitive impairment.
- Compared impulsivity scores of the elderly sample with existing data from adult and adolescent studies.
Main Results:
- Elderly individuals scored higher on dysfunctional impulsivity compared to adults, aligning with inhibition deficit findings.
- No significant differences were observed in functional impulsivity across age groups.
- Older women demonstrated higher dysfunctional impulsivity than older men.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports age-related increases in dysfunctional impulsivity, while functional impulsivity remains stable.
- Impulsivity does not uniformly decrease with age; dysfunctional impulsivity may increase in older adults.
- Findings suggest a nuanced understanding of aging and impulsivity is required.
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