The MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS) was initiated in the late 1980s to explore the prevalence and incidence of dementia and cognitive decline among individuals aged over 65 in England and Wales. With a sample size exceeding 18,000 participants, the study aimed to quantify how common dementia and related conditions were, as well as the annual incidence of new dementia cases. Beyond dementia, the study also gathered data on depression, physical disability, and healthy active life expectancy in the elderly population. Running from 1989 to 2011, MRC CFAS provided critical estimates of dementia prevalence in the UK, which informed public policy and led to further research into generational changes in dementia, cognition, and life expectancy through subsequent studies like CFAS II and CFAS Wales.

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