Cohort Descriptives

Variable Response
Cohort Name Cognitive Function in Ageing Study II
Cohort Acronym CFAS II
DOI Brayne, C. (2017). CFAS II [Data set]. Dementias Platform UK. https://doi.org/10.48532/013000
Study Overview Recruitment for CFAS II started in 2008, which builds on the design and infrastructure of CFAS I. It will provide data on generational and geographical differences, including older people in institutions. It will also provide important baseline information on older people aged 65-84 in 2008-2011 who will reach the age of greatest frailty during the 2020's, when the peak in the number of people aged 85 or over is expected and at a time when major therapeutic interventions for dementia could be expected to have an effect. Participants were followed up by interview approximately two years after baseline interview. The method of selection of the population base has been repeated from CFAS I, as its methods of measuring for health, cognition and functional ability of older people are well tried and have been shown to be feasible, reliable and valid. There was therefore a unique opportunity to use CFAS I as a baseline for differences in the next generation of the older population. CFAS II provides an opportunity to investigate the implications of change in morbidity and frailty on health itself, as well as the use of services and expenditure in health and social care in the future.
#Subjects at Baseline 7524
Institution Name University of Cambridge
Department Name Institute of Public Health
City Cambridge
Study/Database Website

http://www.cfas.ac.uk/cfas-ii/

Principal Investigator (PI) Prof Carol Brayne
Key Study References

Please see Publications

Population Based Study? Yes
Family Based Study? No
Clinical based sample? No
Is there follow-up data available? Yes
Were participants included prior to development of dementia (may refer to controls only)? Yes
Were participants included prior to development of MCI (may refer to controls only)? Yes
How is data collected? In person
Who carries out data collection? Inteviewers
Does this take place in participants' homes or at a central location? Home
Do participants take part individually or are families/partners involved? Individually and Family: An informant interview for those with a cognitively impaired profile, and for a random selection of those without, was requested for 20% of the sample.
Dementia cases ascertained as part of study: Yes
Diagnosis based on review of existing clinical data No
Was diagnosis/primary outcomes made blind to exposure variables? No
How many times followed up? 1
Study start date 01/01/2008 00:00:00
Is study ongoing? Yes
Is study still recruiting? No
Inclusion criteria Born before 1942. Speaks English proficiently. Lives in the cohort catchment area.
Exclusion criteria Born after 1942. Anyone not proficient in English will be excluded from the sample.

Administration

Variable type
Age Of Subject
Consent For HAS Interview
Date Of Birth
Date Of Interview
Full Address
Place Of Interview (Centre)

Sociodemographic

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Deprivation Is accommodation owned or rented Y Y
Deprivation Moved since previous interview   Y
Deprivation Who funds accommodation in nursing home   Y
Education Any further training (college course/apprenticeship) Y  
Education Years spent in full time education Y  
Employment Employment information of spouse Y  
Employment Foreman/supervisor/manager Y  
Employment In charge of people at work Y  
Employment Main occupation for most of working life Y  
Employment Retirement/spouse's retirement Y Y
Employment Self employed Y  
Ethnicity Ethnic group Y  
Marital Status How long been widowed/separated/divorced Y Y
Marital Status Marital status Y Y
Religion Attend any meetings of church/mosque groups Y Y

Family History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Children Have any children Y Y
Children Number of children Y  
Children Number of children not living Y  
Extended Any family had a stroke/heart attack Y  
Extended Any family have Down's syndrome Y  
Extended Any family have leukaemia/lymphoma Y  
Extended Any family have psychiatric disorder Y  
Extended Any family have senility/dementia/Alzheimer's/Parkinson's Y  
Extended Any family have sugar diabetes Y  
Father Age of father at death Y Y
Father Father still alive Y Y
Mother Age of mother at death Y Y
Mother Age of mother at subject's birth Y  
Mother Mother still alive Y Y
Siblings Number of siblings Y Y
Siblings Number of siblings reached age 70 (alive/dead) Y Y
Siblings Number of siblings still alive Y Y

Early Life History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Birthplace Place of birth Y  

Physical Health Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Cancer Currently in remission Y Y
Cancer Diagnosed with/type of cancer Y Y
Cardiothoracic Angina Y Y
Cardiothoracic Heart attack Y Y
Cardiothoracic High/low blood pressure Y Y
Cerebrovascular Stroke Y Y
Endocrinology Thyroid problems Y Y
ENT Had a hearing test in last year Y Y
ENT Hearing problems Y Y
ENT Seen the dentist in last year Y Y
Eyes Had eyesight tested by optician in last year Y Y
Eyes Poor eyesight Y Y
Gastrointestinal Peptic ulcers Y Y
General Health Any falls Y Y
General Health Dizziness/light headedness/unsteadiness Y Y
General Health Have headaches Y Y
General Health Meningitis/encephalitis Y Y
General Health Other medical conditions Y Y
General Health Problems with speech Y Y
General Health Recent weight loss/gain Y Y
General Health Seen GP in last 4 weeks Y Y
General Health Self perception of general health Y Y
General Health Serious head injury/unconsciousness Y Y
General Health Shingles Y Y
General Health Sugar diabetes Y Y
General Health Slower physically/has little energy Y Y
Immunological Pernicious anaemia Y Y
Neurological Dysphasia/dysarthria Y Y
Neurological Epilepsy/fits Y Y
Pain Current level of pain/discomfort   Y
Pain Intermittent claudication/leg pain Y Y
Respiratory Asthma/childhood asthma Y Y
Respiratory Chronic bronchitis Y Y
Rheumatology Arthritis Y Y

Reproductive History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Female Age at last menstrual period Y  
Female Ever taken/currently taking HRT   Y
Female How long had/have had HRT Y  

Healthcare Utilisation

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Hospitalisation Day centre/hospital Y Y
Hospitalisation Inpatient/outpatient information Y Y
Hospitalisation Went to hospital for emotional problems Y Y
Medications Currently taking medications Y Y
Medications Medication for high blood pressure Y Y
Medications Medication to help sleep Y Y
Medications Medication/treatment for diabetes Y Y
Medications Medication/treatment for emotional problems Y Y
Physical Therapy Chiropodist Y Y
Physical Therapy Occupational therapist Y Y
Physical Therapy Physiotherapist Y Y
Psycho Therapy Speech therapist Y Y
Social Care Admission date to nursing home Y Y
Social Care Lives in an institution Y Y
Social Care Local authority home help/care assistant Y Y
Social Care Meals on wheels Y Y
Social Care Nursing service/social worker Y Y
Social Care Respite care Y Y
Surgery General anaesthetic Y Y
Surgery Major operation   Y

Life Functionality

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Assistive Devices Hearing aids Y Y
Assistive Devices Walking aids Y Y
Daily Living Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Y Y
Daily Living How coping with day to day activities Y Y
Daily Living Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Y Y
Daily Living Limited in activities due to a health problem Y Y
Daily Living Modified Townsend Disability Scale Y Y

Psychological Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Quality Of Life Difficulty concentrating Y Y
Quality Of Life Satisfaction with life in general at present Y  
Sleep Difficulty falling asleep/sleep interrupted Y Y
Sleep Gets exhausted/worn out Y Y
Sleep How long had sleep trouble Y Y
Sleep Insomnia Y Y
Sleep Problems/trouble sleeping Y Y
Sleep Wake up early/reason for early waking Y Y
Wellbeing Believes is being persecuted by others Y Y
Wellbeing Blames self about anything Y Y
Wellbeing Confidence Y Y
Wellbeing Difficult to make up mind/indecisive Y Y
Wellbeing Difficulty relaxing/resting Y Y
Wellbeing Enjoyment/interest/concentration levels Y Y
Wellbeing Feel worthless Y Y
Wellbeing Loneliness Y Y
Wellbeing Talks more slowly Y Y
Wellbeing Tend to talk/think about past more Y Y
Wellbeing Thinking mixed up/muddled/slowed down Y Y

Mental Health Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Consultation Consulted doctor about emotional problems Y Y
Consultation Doctor diagnosed as depression/manic depression Y Y
Consultation GP arranged to see a specialist Y Y
Disorders Hallucinations (visual or other) Y Y
Mood Anxiety Y Y
Mood Changeable in mood Y Y
Mood Depression Y Y
Mood Energy different when someone visits Y Y
Mood Feel hopeful/hopeless Y Y
Mood Get frightened Y Y
Mood Irritability/anger Y Y
Mood Panic attacks Y Y
Mood Worried about anything Y Y
Self Harm Ever felt would rather be dead/suicidal and when Y Y
Self Harm How much of the time feel suicidal Y Y
Self Harm Tried anything suicidal Y Y

Cognition

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Cognitive Performance Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) Y Y
Cognitive Performance Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Y Y
Cognitive status Blessed Dementia Scale Y Y
Cognitive status Difficulty in starting to move/slower walking Y Y
Cognitive status Hachinski Ischaemic Score Y Y
Cognitive status Handwriting changed Y Y
Cognitive status Parkinsonian movements Y Y
Cognitive status Parkinson's disease Y Y
Cognitive status Tremor/shakiness in hands Y Y
Cognitive status What period of time noticed these changes over Y Y
Self Report Cognitive Status Change in memory over last 2 years Y  
Self Report Cognitive Status Change in memory since last interview   Y
Self Report Cognitive Status Difficulty finding right words Y  
Self Report Cognitive Status Ever had memory problems/difficulty Y Y
Self Report Cognitive Status More effort to remember things Y Y
Self Report Cognitive Status Tendency to forget things Y Y

Lifestyle

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Alcohol Alcohol a problem Y Y
Alcohol Any symptoms from drinking too much/not enough Y Y
Alcohol Drinking habits Y Y
Alcohol How often have alcoholic drinks Y Y
Alcohol Intake of alcoholic drinks Y Y
Diet Eating more/less than usual Y Y
Diet How often eat fish Y Y
Diet How often eat fresh fruit/vegetables Y Y
Diet How often eat wholemeal/brown bread Y Y
Diet What has appetite been like/enjoy food Y Y
Digital Technology How often listen to the radio Y Y
Leisure Attend any evening classes Y Y
Leisure Attend meetings of any community/social group Y Y
Leisure Get out and about as much as would like Y Y
Leisure How often do crosswords/other puzzles Y Y
Leisure How often play games (eg cards/chess) Y Y
Leisure How often read a newspaper/magazine/book Y Y
Physical Been doing more or less recently Y Y
Physical Sits around a lot Y Y
Physical Take part in mildly energetic sports/activities Y Y
Physical Take part in sports club/exercise group Y Y
Physical Take part in vigorous/moderate sports/activities Y Y
Smoking Age when started smoking Y  
Smoking Age when stopped smoking Y Y
Smoking Currently smoke/amount smoked per day (past/present) Y Y
Smoking Ever smoked Y  
Smoking Given up smoking since last interview and why   Y
Substances Ever taken any other substances (eg opium, cannabis etc) Y Y
Substances What substances taken and how much Y Y

Physical Environment

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Housing Current accommodation Y Y
Housing Length of time lived in area Y  
Housing Lives with anyone else Y Y
Housing Type of accommodation moved from   Y
Housing Type of accommodation within nursing home Y Y

Social Environment

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Social Care (Given) Help anyone frail/unwell with day to day tasks Y Y
Social Care (Given) Help required due to mental/physical frailty Y Y
Social Interaction Any friends in the community Y Y
Social Interaction Anyone have particular difficulty getting on with Y Y
Social Interaction Bothered/upset by relationship with children Y Y
Social Interaction Generally get on with other people Y Y
Social Interaction Interaction with relatives/neighbours Y Y
Social Interaction Person/people that help with day to day tasks Y Y
Social Interaction Preferred to be on own recently Y Y

Physical Examination

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Ear HearCheck Scanner test Y Y
Ear Whispering test Y Y
Eye Eyesight test Y Y
Mobility Balance test Y Y
Mobility Gait speed test Y Y

Biosample Assays

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1
Biochemistry Saliva sample collected Y