Background We examined the relationship between incident functional disability and social participation from perspective of number types organizations participated in type a prospective cohort study. Method The study was based on Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) Cohort data. followed 13,310 individuals aged 65 years or older for 4 years. Analysis carried out 12,951 subjects, excluding 359 people whose information age sex missing. Social categorized into 8 types. Results Compared...

Aging is a prominent topic in global health. The purpose of this report to document progress two our research projects Japan, which currently the most aged society world. Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) one largest nation-wide on aging, with more than 100 000 participants 2010 and 2013. One notable findings that community participation significant determinant older people's We have also made development JAGES Health Equity Assessment Response Tools (HEART), management tool for...

The efficacy of promoting social interactions to improve the health older adults is not fully established due residual confounding and selection bias.The government Taketoyo town, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, developed a resident-centred community intervention programme called 'community salons', providing opportunities for among local residents. To evaluate impact programme, we conducted questionnaire surveys all residents Taketoyo. We carried out baseline survey in July 2006 (prior...

Previous studies have reported that older people’s social participation has positive effects on their health. However, some showed the impacts of health differ by gender. We sought to examine whether mental for men and women in a Japanese population. also examined moderating influence position within organization as well urban/rural locality. used two waves Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study’s longitudinal survey, which targeted residents with aged 65 years or over (n = 2,728) central...

We examined the associations of informal (eg, family members and friends) formal physician visiting nurses) social support with caregiver's burden in long-term care relationship between number available sources caregiver burden.We conducted a mail-in survey 2003 used data 2998 main caregivers frail older adults Aichi, Japan. validated scale to assess burden.Multiple linear regression demonstrated that, after controlling for caregivers' sociodemographic other characteristics, was...

Studies have shown that people with cognitive impairment poor dental health. However, the direction of causality remains unknown. This prospective cohort study aimed to determine association between four self-reported health variables and dementia onset in older Japanese people.Analysis was conducted on 4425 residents 65 years or older. Four included number teeth and/or use dentures, ability chew, presence/absence a regular dentist, taking care Data were collected using self-administered...

We developed and validated an instrument to measure community-level social capital based on data derived from older community dwellers in Japan. used cross-sectional the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide survey involving 123,760 functionally independent people nested within 702 communities (i.e., school districts). conducted exploratory confirmatory factor analyses items determine multi-dimensional scale capital. Internal consistency was checked with Cronbach's alpha....

In the aftermath of a disaster, risk posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high. We sought to examine whether predisaster level community social cohesion was associated with lower PTSD after earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan, on March 11, 2011. The baseline for our natural experiment established survey older community-dwelling adults who lived 80 kilometers west epicenter 7 months before tsunami. A follow-up conducted approximately 2.5 years disaster. used spatial Durbin model...

Although many studies have reported the association between neighborhood built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA), less is known about associations for older populations or in countries besides US Australia. The aim of this paper to examine adult Japan. Our analyses were based on cross-sectional data from Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES), conducted 2003. respondents adults, aged 65 years over (n = 9,414), 8 municipalities across urban, suburban, rural areas. frequency...

We examined whether eating alone is associated with dietary behaviors and body weight status, assessed the modifying effects of cohabitation status in older Japanese people. Data from 2010 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a self-reported questionnaire for 38,690 men 43,674 women aged ≥65 years, were used. Eating was classified as others, sometimes alone, or exclusively alone. calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) unhealthy behaviors, obesity, underweight, adjusting age,...

Abstract Introduction There are few intervention studies that demonstrated linking social participation to lower risk of cognitive decline. We examined prospectively the protective effect a community program promoting on incidence disability. Methods The baseline was established in survey community‐dwelling older people aged 65 years old or more July 2006 (2793 respondents, response rate 48.5%). setting Taketoyo town Japan, where municipal authorities launched an based establishment...

The prevalence of dementia in Japan has been increasing. Childhood poverty associated with increased risk cognitive impairment, possibly mediated by individuals' educational paths. However, the associations between and adverse childhood experiences other than education have not well documented.To examine association onset among Japanese individuals born before 1948 who grew up during after World War II.A 3-year (2013-2016) follow-up was performed 17 412 participants Gerontological Evaluation...

Eating by oneself may be a risk factor for mental illness among older adults, but influenced cohabitation status. We examined the association between eating alone and depression in context of status adults Japan.A longitudinal, population-based study.Data from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.We analysed 17,612 men 19,581 women aged ≥65 without (Geriatric Depression Scale <5) at baseline 2010.Eating was classified into two categories: with others alone. The onset 2013 estimated using...

Previous investigations on the impact of childhood socioeconomic status (SES) depression have focused middle-aged adults in Western countries. It is unknown whether SES has a long-latency effect onset among older adults.Prospective cohort study.Data were from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.We analyzed 10,458 individuals aged 65 years and without (Geriatric Depression Scale <5) at baseline 2010.Participants rated their age 15 according to standards that time. We used binomial...

Background: We sought to evaluate the associations between frequency of daily laughter with heart disease and stroke among community-dwelling older Japanese women men.Methods: analyzed cross-sectional data in 20 934 individuals (10 206 men 10 728 women) aged 65 years or older, who participated Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study 2013. In mail-in survey, participants provided information on laughter, as well body mass index, demographic lifestyle factors, diagnoses cardiovascular disease,...

Evidence on the association between internet usage and incidence of depression remains mixed. We examined associations different categories developing clinical depression. used data from 2013 2016 waves Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) comprising 12,333 physically cognitively independent adults aged ≥65 years. Participants were engaged in seven usage: communication with friends/family, social media, information collection about health/medicine, searching for medical facilities,...

Social relationships consist of mutually related but distinct dimensions. It remains unclear how these domains independently contribute to incident dementia. This large-scale, prospective cohort study examines associations between the social relationship as well their combinations and dementia among community-dwelling older adults.We analysed data from 13 984 adults aged 65+ without long-term care needs living in Aichi prefecture Japan. Incident was assessed based on Long-term Care Insurance...

No previous study has been able to examine the association by taking account of risk factors for dementia before and after disaster. We prospectively examined whether experiences a disaster were associated with cognitive decline in aftermath 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Tsunami. The baseline our natural experiment was established survey older community-dwelling adults who lived 80 km west epicenter 7 mo earthquake tsunami. Approximately 2.5 y disaster, follow-up gathered information...

We examined prospectively whether social capital mitigates the adverse effects of natural disaster on cognitive decline.The baseline for our study was established seven months before 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in a survey older community-dwelling adults who lived 80 kilometers west epicenter (59.0% response rate). Approximately two half years after disaster, follow-up gathered information about personal experiences as well incidence disability (82.1% Our primary outcome...

Objective Social isolation is a risk factor for depression in older age. However, little known regarding whether its impact varies depending on country-specific cultural contexts social relationships. The present study examined the association of with onset among adults England, which has taken advanced measures against isolation, and Japan, super-aged society rapidly increasing number socially isolated people. Design Prospective longitudinal study. Setting We used data from two ongoing...