Table 1 Sampling framework to identify potential participants in the Beyond Ageing Project (BAP) cohort

Age at entry to the BAP cohort

Aged ≥60 years

Self-reported sub-threshold depressive symptoms at entry to the BAP cohort

Where responses to all ten items on the K-10 are summed (where ‘all of the time’ = 5 and ‘none of the time’ = 1) and the summed score ranges from 16 to 29

Resides in Sydney, New South Wales

Has a postcode in the range of 1000-1920; 2000-2249, 2555-2574; or 2740-2786

Does not meet criteria for any of the following Exclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported history of serious cerebrovascular or cardiovascular illness at entry to the BAP cohort

Doctor’s diagnosis of any of the following problems that are not presently under control:

• Serious heart problems

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Severe blockage of a lung artery

Severe chest pains that are brought on by physical activity or occur while at rest

Doctor’s diagnosis of stroke

Doctor’s diagnosis of mini-stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack

Heart problem in the last 12 months that led to a hospital admission, hospital emergency contact or consultation with a specialist

• Self-reported neurological illness at entry to the BAP cohort

Ever had an epileptic fit

Currently have epilepsy

Ever had bleeding in the eye

Ever had a serious head injury that interfered with memory, resulted in loss of consciousness or caused a blood clot in the brain

• Self-reported psychiatric illness at entry to the BAP cohort

Doctor’s diagnosis of bipolar disorder or mania

Summed K-10 score ranging from 30 to 50 (suggesting clinical management of depression presently required, rather than preventative management)

• Self-reported neurodegenerative disease at entry to the BAP cohort

Doctor’s diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

• Other self-reported significant illness at entry to the BAP cohort

Doctor’s diagnosis of brain tumour in the last 12 months

Currently have:

• Cancer

• Alcohol and/or drug abuse

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Anaemia or other blood disease