Financial Decision-Making, Financial Literacy, and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

This pre-registration document describes the analytical plan for a cross-sectional study examining financial decision-making and financial literacy among community-dwelling Australians aged 60+ years, using Wave 5 data from the PATH Through Life (PATH) Study. As populations age globally, understanding how cognitive function relates to financial decision-making capacity has potential implications for policy, clinical practice, and the wellbeing of older adults. This study has two primary aims: (1) to characterise the nature and context of financial decision-making in this population, including decisions made on behalf of others; and (2) to examine cross-sectional associations between objective and subjective financial literacy and a comprehensive battery of cognitive performance measures. Findings will contribute to evidence on the role of cognitive ageing in financial literacy competence.