Social vulnerability, susceptibility to scams and altruism in older adults with and without dementia

As the global population ages, understanding the effects of cognitive impairment on susceptibility to scams becomes increasingly important. This study investigates the relationship between altruistic behavior, cognitive functioning, and scam vulnerability in elderly individuals with normal cognitive functioning (NCF) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). A total of 119 participants, including 61 with MCI and 58 with NCF, were assessed using the ECRC Altruistic Scale, a donation task, and measures of social vulnerability and scam susceptibility. Results showed that individuals with MCI exhibited higher levels of altruism and greater susceptibility to scams compared to those with NCF. The study also found that while higher altruism correlated with increased scam susceptibility in those with cognitive impairment, it did not correlate with broader measures of social vulnerability. These findings underscore the impact of cognitive decline on social behaviors and highlight the need for targeted interventions to protect vulnerable elderly populations from financial exploitation.