Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.11477/mf.5003201254

Authorship：Lead author,　Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (scientific journal)   Publisher：日本老年社会科学会  

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.2188/jea.JE20180260

PubMed

Authorship：Lead author,　Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (scientific journal)   Publisher：公益財団法人　地方自治総合研究所  

Authorship：Lead author,　Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (bulletin of university, research institution)   Publisher：長寿社会開発センター  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

© 2017 Yokobayashi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Aim: The present study examined whether social support, informal socializing and social participation are associated with glycemic control in older people. Methods: Data for this population-based cross-sectional study was obtained from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) 2010 linked to the annual health check-up data in Japan. We analyzed 9,554 individuals aged ≥65 years without the certification of needed long-term care. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of social support, informal socializing and social participations on glycemic control. The outcome measure was HbA1c ≥8.4%. Results: 1.3% of the participants had a level of HbA1c over 8.4%. Better glycemic control was significantly associated with meeting with friends one to four times per month (odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30-0.89, compared to meeting with friends a few times per year or less) and participation in sports groups (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.97) even after adjusting for other variables. Meeting with friends more than twice per week, receiving social support, and being married were not associated with better control of diabetes. Conclusions: Meeting with friends occasionally is associated with better glycemic control among older people.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0169904

Scopus

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD  

Background: Depression is the leading cause of impaired quality of life and burden upon societies. Social supports can buffer against depressive symptoms effectively. The aim of this study is to determine the type of social support to have a positive relationship with depressive symptoms in healthy population.
Methods: 11,869 male and 12,763 female residents within the age range of 65-100 were analyzed cross-sectionally with regard to depressive symptoms (evaluated by the Japanese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale), social supports (four dimensions: giving or receiving, emotional or instrumental), and covariates utilizing data collected by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Analyzed participants were GDS scores <= 10 and independence in ADL, who could give and receive supports well. Multiple linear models were applied for the analysis.
Results: All supports between husband and wife were significantly associated with lower depressive degrees. In comparison with the differences between receiving and giving supports in predictive effects on depressive degrees, giving social supports to outside family, emotional or instrumental, were associated with fewer depressive symptoms.
Conclusions: There is a possibility that not only supports between husband and wife but giving social supports to outside family accounts for psychological benefits against depression, in addition to supports between husband and wife.

DOI： 10.1186/s13030-016-0064-6

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE  

Objective. Many studies have suggested a U-shaped curve for the association between body size and mortality risks, i.e., mortality risks increase in those who are both overweight and underweight. The strength of the associations may vary according to socioeconomic statuses (SES), as they determine levels of access to healthcare and psychosocial stresses. We investigated the modifying effects of SES on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality.
Method. We used prospective cohort data of participants in the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study in 2003 (n = 14,931), who were 65 years or older and physically and cognitively independent at baseline, and residing in eight municipalities in Japan. Data on all-causes mortality and mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease was obtained from municipal government registries.
Results. Proportional hazard regression analyses showed that, among men, the associations between overweight (BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)) and higher mortality risks by any cause were stronger among lower income groups. Even adjusting for multiple confounding factors, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for mortality by all causes among low income group (household income <15 million yen) were 1.96 (1.02-3.73) for overweight compared with BMIs between 23.0 and 24.9, whereas they were 0.94 (0.57-138) among men in high income group (income > 3 million yen). The modifying effects of income were not marked among women.
Conclusion. Household income, which may directly reflect accessibility to healthcare and psychosocial stress among older Japanese men, may be an important modifying factor in the health risks attributable to overweight. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.05.015

Web of Science

PubMed

Authorship：Last author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：日本公衆衛生学会  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MDPI AG  

The purpose of this study is to investigate healthcare access disparity that will cause delayed and unmet healthcare needs for the elderly, and to examine health inequality and healthcare cost burden for the elderly. To produce clear policy applications, this study adapts a modified PRECEDE-PROCEED model for framing theoretical and experimental approaches. Data were collected from a large collection of the Community Tracking Study Household Survey 2003–2004 of the USA. Reliability and construct validity are examined for internal consistency and estimation of disparity and inequality are analyzed by using probit/ols regressions. The results show that predisposing factors (e.g., attitude, beliefs, and perception by socio-demographic differences) are negatively associated with delayed healthcare. A 10% increase in enabling factors (e.g., availability of health insurance coverage, and usual sources of healthcare providers) are significantly associated with a 1% increase in healthcare financing factors. In addition, information through a socio-economic network and support system has a 5% impact on an access disparity. Income, health status, and health inequality are exogenously determined. Designing and implementing easy healthcare accessibility (healthcare system) and healthcare financing methods, and developing a socio-economic support network (including public health information) are essential in reducing delayed healthcare and health inequality.

DOI： 10.3390/ijerph120201745

Scopus

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：厚生労働統計協会  

目的 本研究では,高齢者抑うつ尺度(Geriatric Depression Scale)の短縮版であるGDS5の日本語版について,高齢者を対象とした調査(AGESプロジェクト)の縦断データを用いて,要介護認定,死亡,要介護認定または死亡(健康寿命の喪失)のリスクを評価する際の予測的妥当性を検証した。方法 2003年10月,東海地方の介護保険者6自治体の協力を得て,各市町に居住する65歳以上高齢者29,374名を対象とした自記式アンケート郵送調査を行った。調査回答者14,286名(回収率48.6%)のうち,年齢または性別のデータが無効な者(n=1,533),あるいは歩行,入浴,排泄のうち1つ以上が自立していない,または無回答の者(n=1,295)を除いた11,753名を4年間追跡した。目的変数として,要介護認定,死亡,健康寿命の喪失を用いた。説明変数はGDS5とした。調整変数として,年齢,性別,教育年数,等価所得,治療中の疾病の有無,主観的健康感を用いた。Cox比例ハザード回帰分析を用いて,要介護認定,死亡,健康寿命の喪失についてのハザード比を求めた。結果 年齢,性別,教育年数,等価所得,治療中の疾病の有無,主観的健康感について調整した上で,GDS5と要介護認定,死亡,健康寿命の喪失との関連をみたところ,いずれについても「うつなし」に対して「うつ傾向(要介護認定:HR=1.263,死亡:HR=1.331,健康寿命の喪失:HR=1.292)」が有意に高いハザード比を示した。考察 GDS5の日本語版について,要介護認定,死亡,健康寿命の喪失のリスクを評価する際の予測的妥当性を示すことができた。(著者抄録)

Authorship：Last author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, inactivity and the homebound status of older victims in affected areas have been a serious public health concern owing to the victims' prolonged existence as evacuees in mountainous areas. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the association between distances to retail stores and risks of being homebound. DESIGN: secondary analysis of cross-sectional interview survey data with a geographical information analysis. SETTING: Rikuzentakata, Iwate, a municipality seriously damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. SUBJECTS: all Rikuzentakata residents aged 65 or older except for those living in temporary housing (n = 2,327). METHODS: we calculated road distances between each residential address and retail stores, hawker sites and shopping bus stops, accounting for the extra load caused by walking on slopes. The prevalence ratio of being homebound adjusted for age, source of income and morbidity by road distance was estimated using Poisson regression with a generalised estimating equation. RESULTS: those living at distances of 1,200 m or more were 1.78 (95% confidence intervals, 1.03-3.08) times more likely to be homebound (going out only every 4 or more days a week) among men and 1.85 (1.13-3.02) among women, compared with those residing in places <400 m from retail stores or shopping bus stops. The distances were reduced by new hawker and shopping bus services, but the improvements varied greatly across the districts. CONCLUSIONS: access to daily needs is essential to prevent homebound status. Post-disaster community diagnosis in terms of the built environment is important for strategic community restoration.

DOI： 10.1093/ageing/afu146

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japan Society of Civil Engineers  

The purpose of this study is to examine relationship between shopping environment and frequency of food intake of community residents. We conducted questionnaire survey on available modes of transportation, support from family members, use of delivery service and demographical items in Matsuzono district, Morioka city. Distances from grocery store to address of subjects were measured by using Geographic Information system. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for smallness of food consumption. As a result, sex, family structure, existence of grocery store in walking distance were related to consumption frequency of food intake.

DOI： 10.2208/jscejipm.70.I_295

Authorship：Lead author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The City Planning Institute of Japan  

The purpose of this study is to clarify the current condition and change in the food-shopping environment in Morioka city. We used time series data of spatial distribution of grocery stores and population to estimate the changes of coverage area of stores and population with difficult access to grocery store. We found that coverage area of grocery stores decreased by twenty percent and people with the disadvantage of shopping increased twofold. We showed that population with difficult access to grocery store is concentrated on suburban area of Morioka city.

DOI： 10.11361/journalcpij.48.969

CiNii Books

Authorship：Last author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： j.socscimed.2013.05.006

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

J-GLOBAL

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

To evaluate the gender-specific impact of social exclusion on the mortality of older Japanese adults, we performed a prospective data analysis using the data of the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES). In AGES, we surveyed functionally independent residents aged 65 years or older who lived in six municipalities in Aichi prefecture, Japan. We gathered baseline information from 13,310 respondents in 2003. Information on mortality was obtained from municipal databases of the public long-term care insurance system. All participants were followed for up to 4 years. We evaluated social exclusion in terms of the combination of social isolation, social inactivity, and relative poverty. Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that socially excluded older people were at significantly increased risk (9-34%) for premature mortality. Those with simultaneously relative poverty and social isolation and/or social inactivity were 1.29 times more likely to die prematurely than those who were not socially excluded. Women showed stronger overall impact of social exclusion on mortality, whereas relative poverty was significantly associated with mortality risks for men. If these associations are truly causal, social exclusion is attributable to 9000-44,000 premature deaths (1-5%) annually for the older Japanese population. Health and social policies to mitigate the issue of social exclusion among older adults may require gender-specific approaches. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.006

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BMJ Publishing Group  

DOI： 10.1136 /bmjopen-2012-001262.

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

The story of Roseto, Pennsylvania, USA, is one of the most widely cited studies of the putative influence of community social cohesion on population health. However, few contemporary studies of community-based "social capital" on health have addressed "communities" as unique places with unique histories outside of a Western context. In the present study, we focus on a specific region of Japan (which we call the M-region to preserve anonymity). Using survey data and qualitative interviews, we discuss the historical and contextual origins of the high social capital in the M-region that could account for its relatively good health profile. The analysis of survey data suggested that the residents of M-region have higher norms of reciprocity and participate more in horizontal organizations (including volunteer group, citizen or consumer group, sports group or club, and hobby group), and it also indicated better health status and behaviors in some outcomes among the residents of M-region. Based on qualitative interviews, the origins of social capital in the M-region appeared to be rooted in the strong sense of solidarity fostered by the fact that many of the residents were recruited into the region by the same local employer (a steel manufacturing company). Our study points to the need to ground studies of community-based "social capital" and health on detailed knowledge of the historical context of specific places. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.017

Web of Science

PubMed

Authorship：Lead author,　Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：公益財団法人 医療科学研究所  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS  

Objectives: Studies have shown that people with cognitive impairment have poor dental health. However, the direction of causality remains unknown. This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the association between four self-reported dental health variables and dementia onset in older Japanese people. Methods: Analysis was conducted on 4425 residents 65 years or older. Four self-reported dental health variables included the number of teeth and/or use of dentures, ability to chew, presence/absence of a regular dentist, and taking care of dental health. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires given in 2003. Records of dementia onset during 2003 to 2007 were obtained from municipalities in charge of the public long-term care insurance system. Age, income, body mass index, present illness, alcohol consumption, exercise, and forgetfulness were used as covariates. Results: Dementia onset was recorded in 220 participants. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models showed significant associations between the dental health variables and dementia ilia In models fully adjusted for all covariates, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of dementia onset of respondents were as follows: 1.85 (1.04-3.31) for those with few teeth and without dentures; 1.25 (0.81-1.93) for those who could not chew very well; 1.44 (1.04-2.01) for those who did not have a regular dentist; and 1.76 (0.96-3.20) for those who did not take care of their dental health. Conclusions: Few teeth without dentures and absence of a regular dentist, not poor mastication and poor attitudes toward dental health, were associated with higher risk of dementia onset in the older Japanese cohort even after adjustment for available covariates.

DOI： 10.1097/PSY.0b013e318246dffb

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCI LTD  

Why are some communities more cohesive than others? The answer to the puzzle has two parts: (a) due to variations in the attributes of residents, and/or (b) due to variations in the attributes of places. However, few studies have sought to examine the community-level determinants of social capital. In the present study, we examined the associations between social capital and different area characteristics: (1) neighborhood walkability, (2) date of community settlement, and (3) degree of urbanization. We based our analysis on 9414 respondents from the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES), conducted in 2003. No significant positive association was found between the walkability score and any of the social capital indices. In contrast, community age and degree of urbanization were associated with many of the social capital indicators, even after controlling for characteristics of the residents. Community social capital thus appears to be more consistently linked to the broader historical and geographic contexts of neighborhoods, rather than to the proximal built environment (as measured by walkability). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.015

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between dental health status and onset of functional disability in older Japanese people.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.
SETTING: Six Japanese municipalities.
PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand four hundred twenty-five community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and over.
MEASUREMENTS: The outcome measure was the onset of functional disability based on public records of people receiving long-term care insurance benefits, determined through a standardized multistep assessment of functional and cognitive impairment including a personal interview and an examination by a physician. Disability data were analyzed for 4,425 respondents during 2003 to 2007. Self-reported number of remaining teeth and eating ability were used as measures of dental health status. Age, sex, body mass index, self-rated health, present illness, smoking, alcohol, exercise, and equivalent income were used as covariates.
RESULTS: In the age-and sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, there were significant associations between number of remaining teeth, eating ability, and onset of disability. After adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status variables, respondents with 19 or fewer teeth had a significant 1.21 (95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.40) times higher hazard ratio for the onset of functional disability. In contrast, eating ability was not significantly associated with the onset of disability.
CONCLUSION: Poor dental status was associated with a higher risk of onset of functional disability in older Japanese people. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status covariates explained the association between eating ability and onset of disability. J Am Geriatr Soc 60: 338343, 2012.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03791.x

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE  

Background: Studies have reported that the predictive ability of self-rated health (SRH) for mortality varies by sex/gender and socioeconomic group. The purpose of this study is to evaluate this relationship in Japan and explore the potential reasons for differences between the groups.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The analyses in the study were based on the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study's (AGES) 2003 Cohort Study in Chita Peninsula, Japan, which followed the four-year survival status of 14,668 communitydwelling people who were at least 65 years old at the start of the study. We first examined sex/gender and education-level differences in association with fair/poor SRH. We then estimated the sex/gender-and education-specific hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality associated with lower SRH using Cox models. Control variables, including health behaviors (smoking and drinking), symptoms of depression, and chronic co-morbid conditions, were added to sequential regression models. The results showed men and women reported a similar prevalence of lower SRH. However, lower SRH was a stronger predictor of mortality in men (HR = 2.44 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.14-2.80]) than in women (HR = 1.88 [95% CI: 1.44-2.47]; p for sex/gender interaction = 0.018). The sex/gender difference in the predictive ability of SRH was progressively attenuated with the additional introduction of other co-morbid conditions. The predictive ability among individuals with high school education (HR = 2.39 [95% CI: 1.74-3.30]) was similar to that among individuals with less than a high school education (HR = 2.14 [95% CI: 1.83-2.50]; p for education interaction = 0.549).
Conclusions: The sex/gender difference in the predictive ability of SRH for mortality among this elderly Japanese population may be explained by male/female differences in what goes into an individual's assessment of their SRH, with males apparently weighting depressive symptoms more than females.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0030179

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory disease are major causes of death in developed countries. No study has simultaneously compared the contribution of oral health with these major causes of death. This study examined the association between oral health and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory mortality among older Japanese. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to participants in the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) Project in 2003. Mortality data were analyzed for 4425 respondents. Three categories of oral health were used: 20 or more teeth, 19 or fewer teeth and eat everything, 19 or fewer teeth and eating difficulty. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), self-rated health, present illness, exercise, smoking, alcohol, education, and income were used as covariates. During 4.28 years' follow-up, 410 people died, 159 from cancer, 108 of cardiovascular diseases, and 58 of respiratory disease. Multivariate adjusted Cox proportional hazard models showed that, compared with the respondents with 20 or more teeth, respondents with 19 or fewer teeth and with eating difficulty had a 1.83 and 1.85 times higher hazard ratio for cardiovascular disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, respectively. There was no significant association with cancer mortality. Oral health predicted cardiovascular and respiratory disease mortality but not cancer mortality in older Japanese. © 2011 International &amp
American Associations for Dental Research.

DOI： 10.1177/0022034511414423

Scopus

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD  

Background: Although many studies have reported the association between neighborhood built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA), less is known about the associations for older populations or in countries besides the US and Australia. The aim of this paper is to examine the associations for older adult populations in Japan.
Methods: Our analyses were based on cross-sectional data from the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES), conducted in 2003. The respondents were older adults, aged 65 years or over (n = 9,414), from 8 municipalities across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The frequency of leisure time sports activity and total walking time were used as the outcome variables. Using geographic information systems (GIS), we measured residential density, street connectivity, number of local destinations, access to recreational spaces, and land slope of the respondents' neighborhoods, based on network distances with multiple radii (250 m, 500 m, 1,000 m). An ordinal logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between PA and BE measures.
Results: Population density and presence of parks or green spaces had positive associations with the frequency of sports activity, regardless of the selected buffer zone. The analysis of total walking time, however, showed only a few associations.
Conclusions: Our findings provide mixed support for the association between PA and the characteristics of BE measures, previously used in Western settings. Some characteristics of the neighborhood built environment may facilitate leisure time sports activity, but not increase the total walking time for Japanese older adults.

DOI： 10.1186/1471-2458-11-657

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：(MISC) Summary of the papers read (international conference)   Publisher：BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP  

DOI： 10.1136/jech.2011.142976d.92

Web of Science

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：(MISC) Summary of the papers read (international conference)   Publisher：B M J PUBLISHING GROUP  

DOI： 10.1136/jech.2011.142976g.34

Web of Science

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD  

Background: The majority of studies of the local food environment in relation to obesity risk have been conducted in the US, UK, and Australia. The evidence remains limited to western societies. The aim of this paper is to examine the association of local food environment to body mass index (BMI) in a study of older Japanese individuals.
Methods: The analysis was based on 12,595 respondents from cross-sectional data of the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES), conducted in 2006 and 2007. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we mapped respondents' access to supermarkets, convenience stores, and fast food outlets, based on a street network (both the distance to the nearest stores and the number of stores within 500 m of the respondents' home). Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between food environment and BMI.
Results: In contrast to previous reports, we found that better access to supermarkets was related to higher BMI. Better access to fast food outlets or convenience stores was also associated with higher BMI, but only among those living alone. The logistic regression analysis, using categorized BMI, showed that the access to supermarkets was only related to being overweight or obese, but not related to being underweight.
Conclusions: Our findings provide mixed support for the types of food environment measures previously used in western settings. Importantly, our results suggest the need to develop culture-specific approaches to characterizing neighborhood contexts when hypotheses are extrapolated across national borders.

DOI： 10.1186/1476-072X-10-43

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BIOMED CENTRAL LTD  

Background: Few prospective cohort studies have assessed the association between social capital and mortality. The studies were conducted only in Western countries and did not use the same social capital indicators. The present prospective cohort study aimed to examine the relationships between various forms of individual social capital and all-cause mortality in Japan.
Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to subjects in the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) Project in 2003. Mortality data from 2003 to 2008 were analyzed for 14,668 respondents. Both cognitive and structural components of individual social capital were collected: 8 for cognitive social capital (trust, 3; social support, 3; reciprocity, 2) and 9 for structural social capital (social network). Cox proportional hazard models stratified by sex with multiple imputation were used. Age, body mass index, self-rated health, current illness, smoking history, alcohol consumption, exercise, equivalent income and education were used as covariates.
Results: During 27,571 person-years of follow-up for men and 29,561 person-years of follow-up for women, 790 deaths in men and 424 in women were observed. In the univariate analyses for men, lower social capital was significantly related to higher mortality in one general trust variable, all generalised reciprocity variables and four social network variables. For women, lower social capital was significantly related to higher mortality in all generalised reciprocity and four social network variables. After adjusting for covariates, lower friendship network was significantly associated with higher all-cause mortality among men (meet friends rarely; HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.10-1.53) and women (having no friends; HR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.02-3.23). Among women, lower general trust was significantly related to lower mortality (most people cannot be trusted; HR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.45-0.96).
Conclusions: Friendship network was a good predictor for all-cause mortality among older Japanese. In contrast, mistrust was associated with lower mortality among women. Studies with social capital indices considering different culture backgrounds are needed.

DOI： 10.1186/1471-2458-11-499

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1922/CDH_2538Hanibuchi08

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JAPAN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASSOC  

Background: The longevity of Japanese is thought to be associated with psychosocial factors such as sense of coherence, social support, and social capital. However, the actual factors responsible and the extent of their contribution to individual health status are not known.
Methods: The Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) 2003 Cohort Study is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling, activities of daily living-independent people aged 65 or older living in 6 municipalities in Chita peninsula, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Information on psychosocial factors and other individual- and community-level factors was collected in the second half of 2003 using a baseline questionnaire. Vital status and physical and cognitive decline have been followed using data derived from long-term care insurance certification. Geographical information on the study participants was also obtained.
Results: A total of 13 310 (6508 men; 6802 women) study participants were registered in the study. For an interim report, we followed the cohort for 48 months, yielding 24 753 person-years of observation among men and 26 456 person-years among women.
Conclusions: The AGES 2003 Cohort Study provides useful evidence for research in social epidemiology, gerontology, and health services.

DOI： 10.2188/jea.JE20100135

Web of Science

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：日本公衆衛生学会  

Objectives This study aimed to identify psychosocial risk factors involved in the progression of senility associated with dementia, and clarify activities that may prevent such progression.<br/>Methods In 2003, as a part of the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study Project, a self-completion postal questionnaire survey was conducted among elderly persons aged 65 years or older not under the Certification of Eligibility for Long-Term Care (hereafter, Certification); (response rate: 49.4%). Among the respondents, 9,720 subjects (4,614 males, 5,106 females; average age 72.8 years, range±6.0), whose gender and age were confirmed and who could handle all ADLs independently, were selected for the three-year longitudinal study. The end point of the study was Certification in the second appraisal, through categorization under the ADL Independence Assessment Criteria for the Elderly with Dementia Rank II. Predictive variables used in the study were: health behavior, psychological/cognitive factors, recreational/social activities, TMIG Index of Competence, and social class. Recreational activities were divided into eight types: sports, culture, music, creative activities, gardening, radio and TV, sightseeing, and investment/gambling. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to determine an age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for each in both males and females. Subsequently, those factors with a significant HR were used as predictive variables in stepwise regression for further clarification.<br/>Results At the end of the 3-year study, the number of subjects who received Certification associated with dementia was 330 (139 males, 191 females); 9,390 were otherwise categorized. The percentage of Certified subjects was 1.13 per year. The following predictive factors showed significant HRs: in both the male and female groups, self-awareness of forgetfulness (male 1.69, female 2.59) and 4 points or less in instrumental independence scores (male 1.80, female 2.23); in the males, living alone (2.39), subjective poor health (2.04), no work (1.80) 3 points or less in intellectual activity score (2.13), and no gardening (1.99); and in the female group, no sports (1.92).<br/>Conclusion The study found that the occurrence of Certification associated with dementia is less in those who are enjoying good psychosocial/daily life conditions, in males involved in gardening, and in females involved in sports. Thus the study suggests the importance of focusing on these factors, more so than health behavior, in terms of progressive dementia prevention.

DOI： 10.11236/jph.57.12_1054

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Behaviormetric Society of Japan  

Social capital, both at an individual and a community level, has received attention as a determinant of health behavior. In this study the authors analyzed regional differences of health behaviors and social capital, and their relationship at an individual level, focusing on the M-region in Aichi Prefecture. The result revealed that the elderly in the M-region tended to exhibit better health behaviors and richer social capital. Although some of the social capital indices showed significant associations with the health behaviors at an individual level, this might only explain a part of the differences we observed in health behaviors between the M-region and the other region. We then discussed the role of social capital at a community level to explain the better health behaviors that occur in the M-region, and proposed the importance of &lt;i&gt;sha-en&lt;/i&gt; (social relations with co-workers or business partners), as a more fundamental local condition for &#039;a healthy neighborhood&#039;.

DOI： 10.2333/jbhmk.37.53

CiNii Books

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1007/978-4-431-99644-6_95

Web of Science

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：国立社会保障・人口問題研究所  

CiNii Books

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.05.006

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japanese Society of Public Health  

&lt;b&gt;Purpose&lt;/b&gt; The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors for certification of long-term care insurance in community dwelling elderly people.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; We sent self-completion questionnaires to 24,374 persons (in 5 municipalities) aged 65 years and older and 12,031 responded. Among these participants, we analyzed 9,702 persons who were not requiring care and showed no disability in basic activities of daily living (ADL) at baseline and provided complete data on age and sex. The endpoint was the onset of certification of long-term care insurance. Independent variables from the baseline survey were age, family structure, income, years of education attainment, diseases under treatment, number of medications, fall(s) in 1 year, biting ability, BMI (body mass index), hearing impairment, vision impairment, excretion impairment, the TMIG index of competence, depression, self-rated health, alcohol consumption, smoking, walking time in a day, frequency of going out, frequency of contact with friends, social support, participation in group activity, working and housekeeping. We calculated the hazard ratio (HR) for onset of certification of long-term care insurance using the Cox proportional hazards model of SPSS Ver. 12.0J.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Among the 9,702 persons, 520 died and 821 had onset of certification of long-term care insurance by October 2006 (follow-up period of 36 months).&lt;br/&gt; Age, diseases under treatment, number of medications, fall(s) in 1 year, biting ability, excretion impairment, the TMIG index of competence, depression, self-rated health, walking time in a day, frequency of going out, frequency of contact with friends, participation in group activity, working and housekeeping were significantly related to increased risk of onset of certification of long-term care insurance.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt; We here were able to clarify risk factors for certification of long-term care insurance. Development of care prevention programs focusing on these factors is now needed.

DOI： 10.11236/jph.56.8_501

CiNii Books

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.06.003

PubMed

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1136/jech.2008.078642

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：厚生統計協会  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：農村計画学会  

DOI： 10.2750/arp.27.269

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Introduction and explanation (others)   Publisher：三輪書店  

CiNii Books

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/j.healthplace.2007.08.007

PubMed

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：(MISC) Other article  

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：地理情報システム学会編集委員会  

DOI： 10.5638/thagis.15.59

CiNii Books

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：THE ASSOCIATION OF RURAL PLANNING  

This paper investigates linkage between social capital and individual health using multilevel analysis. Data for the analysis is based on 9,248 people over 65 years old living in 28 school districts in Chita peninsula. Results show that school-district-level contextual effects are found for average income and social capital. Importantly, it is argued that without adopting a multilevel approach, the debate on linkage between individual health and social capital cannot be adequately addressed.

DOI： 10.2750/arp.24.S277

CiNii Books

Event date： 2021.12

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Symposium workshop panel(nominated)  

Event date： 2020.2

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Event date： 2019.10

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Symposium workshop panel(nominated)  

Event date： 2019.10

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Event date： 2018.10

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Event date： 2017.11

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation(general)  

Venue：岩手大学  

Event date： 2017.10

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation(general)  

Event date： 2017.7

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Event date： 2017.1

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Venue：甲府市  

Event date： 2016.11

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation(general)  

Venue：長崎市  

Event date： 2016.10

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation(general)  

Venue：大阪市