The Purpose of the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (CFAS)
The MRC CFAS is a population based study of individuals aged 65 years and over living the community, including institutions. The fieldwork for this study began in 1991.
The initial aims of CFAS were -
- To find out how common dementia and associated conditions are in England and Wales (the prevalence of dementia) and also, how many new cases of dementia develop each year in England and Wales (the incidence of dementia).
- To find out if the number of cases of dementia varies around the country.
- To describe the service needs of dementia sufferers and the degree of disability suffered.
- To find out which factors increase the risk of someone developing dementia.
- To investigate the different diseases that cause dementia and how quickly dementia progresses.
In addition to dementia, CFAS has also been able to look at other areas –
- depression and depressive symptoms in the older population
- physical disability in the older population
- healthy active life expectancy
Projects linked to CFAS -
In the first few years of the study five linked projects were also undertaken -
1) The Resource Implication Study (RIS) 1992/94
This study aimed to investigate the costs to families and health and social services of mental and physical frailty in elderly people. This study was funded by the MRC and followed up individuals and their carers over a period of 24months.
2) The Network Study
This study looked at the support networks that elderly people have and examined the impact of dementia on these networks. This study was funded by DH/Welsh Office 1/6/89 to 31/5/94
3) ESRC Healthy Ageing Project 1992/3
This study aimed to examine the relationship between sociological, psychological and biological variables in a representative sample of the normal elderly population.
4) Neuropathology and Neurology
The main purpose of this study is to diagnose different types of dementia through examination of brain tissue donated through the CFAS study.
5) Genetics Study
Blood or sputum samples were taken from a subset of the study population five years into the study.
|
Send comments/suggestions to web master