Introduction

The Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies are population based studies of individuals aged 65 years and over living the community, including institutions, which is the only large multi-centred population-based study in the UK that has sufficient maturity. There are three major studies. MRC CFAS I started in 1989, its daughter study CFAS II and subsequently another joined CFAS II, CFAS Wales . The fieldwork began in 1989 (CFAS I). The initial aims were investigating dementia and cognitive decline in a representative sample of more than 18,000 people aged over 65 years. Blood or saliva samples were taken from 1733 participants with assessment interviews during 1997. Other blood samples have also been taken from smaller subgroups of participants at other times during the study and in total there are 2670 samples stored. Also,a selection of participants in the study were asked if they wish to donate their brain to the study after death. The number of successful donations is now more than 500. It now has four major themes in dementia, depression, disability and healthy life expectancy, and health policy and health.

Since the baseline of CFAS there has been an increase in life expectancy, changes in major chronic disease and potentially advances in symptomatic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Increasingly CFAS is being asked to answer questions about generational change in dementia, cognition and life expectancy states by the government and the public, leading to the daughter study, CFAS II.

CFAS II has started in 2008, building on the design and infrastructure of initial study. The method of selection of population base has been repeated. It's aim is to difference in the next generation of the older population, not only for the young-old (aged 65-84), but also for the oldest-old (aged 85 or over), who may be very different to the generation before them.

The study will also investigate new cohorts in Wales. CFAS Wales is perfectly placed to explore the impact of policy changes under the Welsh Assembly Government. The proposal will extend the current CFAS, which includes 3 sites in England, by allowing a more in-depth examination of rural-urban variations, which have been markedly under explained in previous studies.

The use of CFAS in public policy decisions and in long-term projections is now well established.  In addition it can examine emerging issues such as cognitive screening and mild cognitive impairment.  CFAS has a dedicated research project on this topic and the findings can be directly applied to the new cohort in order to investigate the stability of any criteria across generational cohorts. It has a wealth of findings for comparison with new cohort data.

CFAS I has been valuable for the Wanless review, the Department of Health, Department of Treasury, the Department of Works and Pensions and the report for the Alzheimer's society Dementia UK. CFAS II will update this evidence. This study will provides an opportunity to investigate the implications of changes in morbidity and frailty on health itself, as well as the use of services and expenditure in health and social care on future.

Research Information

Background

Brief Introduction

Research Themes

Bolt-on Studies

Glossary of Terms

CFAS I

Design and Interview

Study Protocol

Scientific Strategy

CFAS II

Study Protocol

CFAS Wales

Introduction

Documentation

Study Information

Consent Forms

Neuropathology Forms

CFAS I Questionnaires

CFAS II Questionnaires

Data

Data & Analysis

Liverpool Data

Oversight

Advisory Committee

Biological Resources

Fundings

Ethics & Legal Aspects

Archive Documents

Management Structure