The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults

This pre-registration document outlines the analytical plan for a longitudinal study examining changes in cognitive function surrounding the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the extent to which psychosocial resilience factors modify these changes. The study uses data from the PATH Through Life Study, a population-based longitudinal cohort of community-dwelling Australian adults. The GFC represents a major macroeconomic shock with potential downstream effects on cognitive ageing through financial stress, psychological distress, and disruption to social and economic stability. However, individuals may differ in their cognitive responses to such shocks depending on their level of exposure and access to resilience resources. This study has two primary aims: (1) to estimate acute and longer-term changes in cognitive function associated with the GFC; and (2) to examine whether economic impact and resilience factors (individual and social resources) modify these cognitive trajectories.