The population is composed of all those aged 65 years and older on the index date of recruitment, living in the community, including institutions.
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
65
Countries
United Kingdom
Territory
Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham and Cambridgeshire
Sources of Recruitment
General Population
Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Primary Care Trust (PCT) lists were used as the sampling frame. Any individuals previously included in the CFAS study was available for the new cohort study as this is a complete re-enumeration of the population and the last follow up was completed in 2008.
Sample Size
Number of Participants
7,500
Supplementary information about number of participants
The number above is the target number of participants.
All interviews were conducted in the respondent's place of residence, using portable computers with customized software.
The screening interview contained questions on residence, marital status, education and occupation, living circumstances, contact with friends and family, health and social care contact, self-reported physical health, instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living, cognitive measures (Mini Mental State Examination with augmentation), and medication.
The assessment interview was mainly the Geriatric Mental State Examination (GMS) adapted for CFAS which collect information on major psychiatric disorders of old age (dementia, depression, anxiety, and psychosis). This interview was augmented with questions from the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMDEX) including the longer neuropsychological assessment.
The relative or carer interview was mainly the History and Aetiological Schedule, the informant interview that accompanies the GMS.