CFAS Wales – Maintaining Function and Well-Being in Later Life

CFAS Wales - A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies – Wales (CFAS-Wales) is a longitudinal study looking at health and cognitive function in older people living in Wales. The Economic and Social Research Council and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales have provided funding for the project, which is being led by Professor Bob Woods at the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), Bangor University.

The research is being conducted in Wales by Bangor University and Swansea University, and will be carried out in four key locations – Gwynedd and Anglesey in the North, and Neath and Port Talbot in the South.

This study will complement data from an earlier survey conducted in the mid 1990s (CFAS-I), and aims to address key questions regarding later life and ageing in the 21st century that currently cannot be answered by other sources. The project is closely linked to the MRC-CFAS project based in England. Following on from CFAS-I, the present study will survey a new cohort of 5000 older people enabling an evaluation of changes that have occurred over the last 15 years in lifestyle, including exercise and activities, and people’s expectations of ageing, services and families, to be conducted. By evaluating function at individual, community and societal levels, as well as quantifying differences seen between 1994 and 2011, this study will provide data that will advance scientific understanding and inform policy and planning for the ageing population in an era where by 2025 one in five of the population in the UK will be over 65 and 5.5% over 80 (UN, 2006).

Where can I find out more information?

More detailed information about the study can be found on the Cognitive Function And Ageing Studies page, with information about our key questions on the Research Information page. A leaflet detailing information about the study can be downloaded here: Welsh, English.

Information about members of the CFAS Wales project team and contact details can be found on the Meet The Team page.

Finally, to follow the progress of the project please see the News And Events page, and the Publications page for articles published in relation to the research outcomes.

If you would like to speak to a member of the research team about the project please telephone the Bangor office on (01248) 383050, or the Swansea office on (01792) 602906. Alternatively you can email the research team at cfas-wales@bangor.ac.uk, or write to the team at CFAS Wales, Bangor University, Ardudwy, Normal Site, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ.

We would like to thank all our participants for their support and for generously giving us their time. Each person who has taken part has really made a difference to the quality of the study, which is helping us understand how health and well-being change as people grow older. Whilst we are enormously grateful for your contribution we also understand that circumstances change. If for any reason you decide that you no longer want to take part in the study, or would like to withdraw your consent please contact the research team on (01248) 383050. Alternatively you can email the research team at cfas-wales@bangor.ac.uk, or write to the team at CFAS Wales, Bangor University, Ardudwy, Normal Site, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ. We thank you for your interest in the study, and if you have any questions or would like any further information about the study and its results please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

CFAS Wales Data Management:

We would like to reiterate how your data is being used to benefit the study. The data is stored on secure computer systems at the Secure Data Holding Service, Clinical School, University of Cambridge, along with data from all the CFAS studies, with the University of Cambridge as the Data Controller, and is regulated under the University of Cambridge clinical governance procedures. Researchers are only provided with data from which identifiable information has been removed so that individuals cannot be identified. The majority of participants have given permission for their information (including NHS Number, Surname, Forename, Date of Birth, Address, Postcode and Gender) to be shared with NHS Digital (previously the Health and Social Care Information Centre and the NHS Information Centre) for linkages to their Patient Demographic Service and ONS Mortality data. They will provide to Cambridge University the latest information they have regarding you including any record of death and relevant causes of death if this has occurred and whether or not you have left the NHS. This is so that analyses can be undertaken at the University of Cambridge regarding what factors predict various health problems over time. We intend to retain the data for the duration of the study.