Dual decline in subjective gait speed and domain-specific cognition is associated with higher risk of incident dementia in older Japanese adults: A 15-year age-specific cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Dual decline in gait speed and cognition has been found to have higher dementia risk than no decline or pure decline. However, evidence from the Asian population is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of dual decline from age 65 to 70 years with late-life dementia in older Japanese adults with different personal characteristics. METHODS: Data were collected from an age-specific cohort study conducted in 482 Japanese 65-year-old adults. We investigated participant demographics, medical histories, lifestyles, subjective gait speed, and cognition at both 64/65 and 70/71 years old, and confirmed dementia until age of 85 years. Cox proportion hazard models were used to estimate the risk of dementia, with adjustments for covariates, and death was treated as a competing risk. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 12.5-years, 111 participants developed dementia. Older adults with dual decline are more likely to have hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking habits. And we found that dual decline in gait speed and domain-specific cognition was associated with a higher risk of dementia compared with no decline in most cognitive tests, with the highest risk observed for gait speed combined with memory (sub-distribution hazard ratio:3.89, 95 %, confidence intervals: [1.68-9.01]). However, significant differences only existed in men after stratification by sex. CONCLUSIONS: A dual decline in subjective gait speed and cognition may serve as a robust predictor of dementia over a decade prior to its onset, particularly in men. These findings highlighted the importance of screening for dual decline at an early age.

Temporal change in the association between life satisfaction and functional decline with gender differences: an age-specific prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although life satisfaction (LS) has been shown to predict mortality, research studying the relationship between LS and functional decline is scarce. This study examined the association between LS and functional decline across four time points in young-old Japanese adults. METHODS: We analysed 1,899 community-dwelling 65-year-olds in this age-specific cohort study conducted between 2000 and 2005. The Life Satisfaction Index K was used to evaluate LS and was classified into quartiles. Functional decline was determined using the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) system: 1) mild disability; 2) severe disability; 3) all-cause mortality; 4) mild or severe disability; 5) severe disability or death; 6) mild or severe disability, or death. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. The analyses were conducted in the 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th years to assess the effect of LS on functional decline across time points. RESULTS: The impact of LS gradually weakened over time. In the 8th year (aged 72-73), a higher LS was associated with a lower risk of mild or severe disability among the women participants (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.30 [0.11-0.81]). However, the effect disappeared gradually (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.55 [0.27-1.14]) in the 10th year (aged 74-75), 0.72 (0.41-1.26) in the 12th year (aged 76-77), and 0.68 (0.41-1.14) in the 14th year (aged 78-79). This trend continued in severe disability or death (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.24 [0.06-0.70], 0.31 [0.11-0.76], 0.57 [0.28-1.14], and 0.60 [0.32-1.12]) and mild or severe disability, or death (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.30 [0.14-0.68], 0.46 [0.24-0.87], 0.67 [0.41-1.10], and 0.65 [0.42-1.02]) in the 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th years, respectively. No statistically significant association was found among men at any time points or in any classification of outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Higher LS scores in 65-year-old women were associated with a lower risk for functional decline in any combination of mild disability, severe disability, or death. Additionally, the effect of LS was observed to weaken over time. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This is not an intervention survey and does not require registration.

Nutritional Adequacy Assessment of the Japanese Diet Using the Number of Dishes Compared to Existing Dietary Diversity Indices: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan.

The Japanese diet has attracted attention as a factor contributing to the Japanese population's longevity. A typical Japanese meal, traditionally called "ichiju-sansai," is composed of various dishes. This study assessed the nutritional adequacy of the Japanese diet using the number of dishes in all meals (NDAM) compared to existing dietary diversity indices (DDIs). This cross-sectional study used data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey. A total of 25,976 participants aged ≥20 y were included in this study. NDAM was calculated for whole dishes or single foods (except supplements and beverages) from one-day weighted dietary records. The food variety score (FVS), number of foods, dietary diversity score (DDS), and number of food groups are some of the existing DDIs. NDAM had relatively high positive correlation coefficients with potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber. The partial correlation coefficients with an indicator of the overall nutrient adequacy of NDAM was 0.42 for men and 0.42 for women. It was almost the same as that of the FVS (men: 0.44, women: 0.42) and DDS (men: 0.44, women: 0.43). On the other hand, NDAM, similar to existing DDIs, was also positively correlated with nutrient restriction in both sexes. These findings indicate that the nutrient adequacy of NDAM is similar to that of the existing DDIs. Because of the higher sodium intake and cholesterol intake in higher NDAM and existing DDIs, the effect of higher NDAM on health outcomes must be investigated in future studies.

Television Viewing Time and All-cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Japanese Adults with and without a History of Stroke or Myocardial Infarction.

AIMS: We examined the association between television (TV) viewing time and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among Japanese adults with and without a history of stroke or myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: In the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study, 76,572 participants (851 stroke survivors, 1,883 MI survivors, and 73,838 persons without a history of stroke or MI), aged 40-79 years at baseline (1988-1990), completed a lifestyle, diet, and medical history questionnaire, and were followed up regarding mortality until 2009. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause and CVD mortality. RESULTS: During the 19.3-year median follow-up period, 17,387 deaths were documented. TV viewing time was positively associated with all-cause and CVD mortality regardless of stroke or MI history. The multivariable-adjusted HRs of all-cause mortality with 95% CIs for TV viewing time of 3-4.9 h, 5-6.9 h, and ≥ 7 h were 1.18 (0.95-1.48), 1.12 (0.86-1.45), and 1.61 (1.12-2.32) for stroke survivors; 0.97 (0.81-1.17), 1.40 (1.12-1.76), and 1.44 (1.02-2.03) for MI survivors; and 1.00 (0.96-1.03), 1.07 (1.01-1.12), and 1.22 (1.11-1.34) for persons without a history of stroke or MI, respectively, compared with ＜3 h. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged TV viewing time was associated with higher risks of all-cause and CVD mortality in stroke or MI survivors and in persons without a history of them. It may be recommended to reduce sedentary time for stroke or MI survivors, independent of the level of physical activity.

Association Between Moderate Physical Activity Level and Subsequent Frailty Incidence Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Our study aimed to demonstrate the association between physical activity (PA) and frailty incidence among Japanese community-dwelling older adults with a narrow age range of 70-74 years. This study included 485 participants from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Frailty was assessed at baseline and 3 years later by using the Kaigo-Yobo Checklist. PA was assessed using the short-term International PA Questionnaire at baseline. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals after adjusting for potential confounders. The associations of frailty scores with both PA volume and daily walking time presented a U-shaped curve, albeit only the latter was statistically significant. After adjusting for potential confounders, walking for 0.5-1 hr/day displayed a greater association with decreased frailty risk than higher levels of daily walking time. Further study is needed to cumulate the evidence that moderate PA levels may delay frailty incidence and improve the aging process.

Shorter sleep time relates to lower human defensin 5 secretion and compositional disturbance of the intestinal microbiota accompanied by decreased short-chain fatty acid production.

Sleep is essential for our health. Short sleep is known to increase disease risks via imbalance of intestinal microbiota, dysbiosis. However, mechanisms by which short sleep induces dysbiosis remain unknown. Small intestinal Paneth cell regulates the intestinal microbiota by secreting antimicrobial peptides including α-defensin, human defensin 5 (HD5). Disruption of circadian rhythm mediating sleep-wake cycle induces Paneth cell failure. We aim to clarify effects of short sleep on HD5 secretion and the intestinal microbiota. Fecal samples and self-reported sleep time were obtained from 35 healthy middle-aged Japanese (41 to 60-year-old). Shorter sleep time was associated with lower fecal HD5 concentration (r = 0.354, p = 0.037), lower centered log ratio (CLR)-transformed abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers in the intestinal microbiota such as [Ruminococcus] gnavus group (r = 0.504, p = 0.002) and Butyricicoccus (r = 0.484, p = 0.003), and lower fecal SCFA concentration. Furthermore, fecal HD5 positively correlated with the abundance of these genera and SCFA concentration. These findings suggest that short sleep relates to disturbance of the intestinal microbiota via decreased HD5 secretion.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Diabetes in a Japanese Population: The DOSANCO Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Both decreased insulin sensitivity and impaired insulin secretion are common in Asian populations with diabetes, in contrast to Western populations. There is limited evidence regarding the association between insulin response in diabetes in Asian populations and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) insufficiency. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of diabetes, defined as a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126 mg/dL and/or a HbA1c level ≥6.5%, among 480 participants aged 35-79 years not taking anti-diabetes medications, based on serum 25(OH)D3 levels. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios for diabetes in each serum 25(OH)D3 group. Furthermore, this study examined the association between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and the index of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) using a linear regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes was 7.29% in the study population, and was higher in lower serum 25(OH)D3 quartile groups. The odds ratios for diabetes in the first, second, and third serum 25(OH)D3 quartile groups (25[OH]D3: ≤18.10, 18.11-22.90, and 22.91-28.17 ng/mL) were 4.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-12.92), 2.50 (95% CI, 0.77-8.10), and 1.91 (95% CI, 0.60-6.09), respectively, with the fourth quartile group (⩾28.18 ng/mL) serving as the reference group, after adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, physical and environmental factors. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels showed an inverse association with log-transformed HOMA-IR after adjusting for similar factors (standardized ß = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.14 to -0.02). CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with diabetes prevalence in a general Japanese population, with a slight inverse association between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and HOMA-IR.

Changes in social activities and the occurrence and persistence of depressive symptoms: Do type and combination of social activities make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the association between changes in social activities and the occurrence/persistence of depressive symptoms and investigate the difference in effect sizes among the types and combinations of social activities. METHODS: The study adopted a valid 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale to assess depressive symptoms in 2480 community-dwelling adults aged 64/65 years. Changes in social-related, learning, and personal activities were classified into four categories: continued low frequency (CLF), increased frequency (IF), decreased frequency (DF), and continued regular frequency (CRF)1. Relative ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a modified Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Those without depressive symptoms at baseline and who engaged in social-related (RRIF = 0.56 (0.39, 0.81), RRCRF = 0.55 (0.41, 0.74)), learning (RRIF = 0.63 (0.44, 0.89), RRCRF = 0.62 (0.46, 0.85)), and personal activities (RRIF = 0.37 (0.24, 0.57), RRCRF = 0.41 (0.30, 0.56)) at IF or CRF were less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Those with depressive symptoms at baseline, engaging in personal activities at IF (RR=0.67 (0.51, 0.87)) and CRF (RR= 0.80 (0.65-1.00)) were less likely to have persistent depressive symptoms. Participation in all three activities consistently at a regular frequency was inversely associated with the occurrence/persistence of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of personal activities was more manifest in preventing depressive symptoms than the other two kinds, regardless of depressive symptoms at baseline. Regularly engaging in a combination of all three activities at baseline and follow-up was associated with the occurrence and persistence of depressive symptoms.

Effect of physical activity on the risk of frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between physical activity (PA) and the risk of frailty has not reached a conclusive result. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of PA on the onset of frailty in the community-dwelling middle and older age adults by pooling data from cohort studies. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed via PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to June 01, 2021. Pooled adjusted effect estimates (ES) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by using the random-effect model and by comparing the highest with lowest levels of PA. Heterogeneity was tested using the I2 statistic and Q-test. The quality of evidence was evaluated by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: A total of ten cohort studies with 14 records were selected, and the GRADE approach classified the quality of evidence as low. In comparison with the lowest level of PA, the highest level of PA was associated with 41% decreased odds of frailty (ES: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.51-0.67; I2 = 70.0%, P-heterogeneity < 0.001) after pooling results from included studies. In stratified analysis by frailty assessment approach, the highest level of PA was significantly associated with 37% (ES 0.63, 95% CI: 0.52-0.77, 49% (ES: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.41-0.63), and 30% (ES: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.65-0.75) reduced odds of frailty when pooling studies using criteria of physical frailty, multidimensional model, and accumulation of disability, respectively. Stratified analyses further by PA indicators and PA assessment tools yielded similar protective effects in any subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: This study with moderate-certainty evidence shows that a higher level of PA was associated with lower odds of frailty, and the benefits of PA for frailty prevention were independent of frailty assessment tools, PA indicators, and PA assessment methods. Findings from this study may help implement active exercise strategies to prevent frailty.

Association of dietary diversity with all-cause mortality by body mass index in Japanese older adults: An age-specific prospective cohort study (NISSIN project).

AIM: Dietary diversity might reduce the risk of malnutrition, although it is also linked to obesity. We examined whether dietary diversity is associated with all-cause mortality in Japanese older adults based on their body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The current study included 2944 people aged 64-65 years who participated in the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation (NISSIN) project from 1996 to 2005. Dietary diversity was measured using the Food Variety Score (FVS), which calculates the frequency of all food items consumed daily using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Participants were divided into tertiles according to their FVS (first: low, second: middle, third: high). Multivariate adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. For the stratified analysis, BMI was used to divide the participants into three groups - lean (BMI <20), normal (BMI 20-24.9) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥25). RESULTS: Overall, 454 (30.7%) men and 222 (15.2%) women died over a median follow-up period of 16.6 years. No significant association was observed between FVS and all-cause mortality. However, when grouped by BMI, for the participants in the lean group, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratios were 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.32-0.96) for the middle FVS and 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.25-1.02) for the high FVS, compared with the low FVS (P for trend = 0.059). In overweight/obese women, although not significant, total mortality was higher in the middle and high FVS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that dietary diversity should be promoted in lean older Japanese adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 736-744.

Association between daily sleep duration and the risk of incident dementia according to the presence or absence of diseases among older Japanese individuals in the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation (NISSIN) project.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between daily sleep duration and incident dementia among physically and socially independent older people with/without diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases) in a Japanese age-specific cohort. METHODS: We carried out a prospective cohort study including 1954 (1006 men and 948 women) Japanese individuals aged 64/65 years. Information on daily sleep duration, medical status, demographics, and lifestyle characteristics was collected by a baseline questionnaire survey and health checkup (2000-2005). Dates of incident dementia were confirmed using the nationally standardized dementia scale proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. A competing risk model was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident dementia. We treated censored cases due to death as competing events. RESULTS: During a median of 15.6 years of follow-up, 260 participants reported incident dementia. Compared with participants without diseases and who slept 6-7.9 h/day, those with a shorter daily sleep duration of <6 h/day, presence of disease and shorter, moderate, or longer daily sleep duration ≥8 h/day had an increased risk of incident dementia (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.04-2.88, HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.14-3.44, HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.03-2.00, and HR 2.09; 95% CI 1.41-3.09, respectively) with a significant interaction between the presence of diseases and sleep duration (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that habitual sleep duration predicts future risk of dementia.

Changes in behavioral activities and transition of depressive symptoms among younger-old community-dwelling adults during 6 years: An age-specific prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Regular engagement in behavioral activities plays a crucial role against depressive symptoms in older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between behavioral activities and the temporal evolution of depressive symptoms. METHODS: We included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 64 or 65 years with and without depressive symptoms enrolled in the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation (NISSIN) project. Depressive symptoms at baseline and follow-up were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Behavioral activities were measured by self-reported questions. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables and health-related confounders. RESULTS: During the 6 year follow-up period, 139 (10.1%) without depressive symptoms at baseline developed such symptoms over time, while 174 (51.6%) with depressive symptoms improved to the point of these symptoms being absent. The participants without depressive symptoms at baseline and those who engaged in social activity or daily walking at a continued regular frequency (CRF) or an increased frequency (IF) and exercise habits at CRF were the least likely to have depressive symptoms onset at follow-up. There was no significant difference between the changes in behavioral activities and the improvement of depressive symptoms after controlling for confounders. Participants engaging in a greater variety of behavioral activities at CRF were less likely to experience a new onset of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent and regular participation in one or more behavioral activities was significantly associated with the onset of depressive symptoms in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.

The number of leisure-time activities and risk of functional disability among Japanese older population: the JAGES cohort.

Evidence-based prevention of functional disability is a pressing issue for the health among the older population, due to the rapidly global aging. This study aimed to examine the association between leisure-time activities and the risk of functional disability. In a longitudinal prospective cohort study, we recruited 50,286 Japanese men and women aged ≥ 65 years who did not have functional disability at the baseline in 2010-2011, with a median follow-up of 5.8 years. We examined the association between 24 leisure-time activities and the risk of developing functional disability. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to examine the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for functional disability. A total of 10,631 persons (4,497 men and 6,134 women) newly developed functional disability. The number of leisure-time activities was inversely associated with the risk of functional disability. With reference to no activity, the multivariable HRs (95% CIs) were 0.89 (0.82-0.97) for one activity, 0.72 (0.67-0.78) for two to four activities, and 0.66 (0.58-0.74) for five or more activities (P for trend, <0.001) for men, and for women, the corresponding HRs were 0.84 (0.78-0.90), 0.77 (0.72-0.82), and 0.70 (0.62-0.79), (P for trend, <0.001). Further, even lower-loading leisure-time activities such as computer for men and handicrafts for women, were also associated with a reduced risk of functional disability. Our study suggests the importance of engaging in various leisure-time activities among the older population.

Association of accelerometer-measured physical activity with kidney function in a Japanese population: the DOSANCO Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity are associated with reduced kidney function, yet most evidence is based on self-reported physical activity. This study investigated the association between accelerometer-based physical activity level and kidney function in a general Japanese population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 440 community-dwelling Japanese participants, aged 35-79 years. Time (min/d) was assessed for the following types of physical activity: sedentary behavior, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Kidney function was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A linear regression model was employed to calculate the ß coefficient of eGFR for a 60-min/d increase in sedentary behavior and LPA and a 10-min/d increase in MVPA. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio for low eGFR (< 60 versus ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2) for a 60-min/d or 10-min/d increase in each physical activity type. RESULTS: MVPA time and eGFR were positively associated in both men and women, after adjusting for age, body mass index, and other clinical characteristics (Men: ß, 0.91; P = 0.021; Women: ß, 0.70; P = 0.034). In women, sedentary behavior and eGFR were inversely associated after adjusting for the same factors (ß, - 1.06; P = 0.048). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for low eGFR associated with a 60-min increase in sedentary behavior was 1.65 (1.07-2.55) after adjusting for the same factors in women. CONCLUSION: Longer sedentary behavior and shorter MVPA time were associated with lower kidney function in the Japanese population.

Plasma Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2 Levels and Mortality Risk Among Younger-Old Japanese People: A Population-Based Case-Cohort Study.

Aging is an important medical and social problem. Excessive angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL)-2 signaling causes chronic tissue inflammation, promoting development and progression of aging-related diseases. Moreover, circulating ANGPTL2 levels reportedly predict the risk of some aging-related diseases and subsequent death. However, there are, as yet, no reports of whether circulating ANGPTL2 levels predict vital prognosis in younger-old, community-dwelling populations. This study investigated associations between plasma ANGPTL2 levels and all-cause and specific-cause mortality in this population. The case-cohort study was abstracted from an ongoing, age-specific prospective cohort study: the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project. This project enrolled 3 073 participants aged 64 years at the beginning of the investigation from 1996 through 2005. A subcohort of 714 randomly sampled participants plus 387 cases representing deceased participants followed through 2015 underwent survival analysis. Plasma ANGPTL2 concentrations were positively associated with >80% and 100% higher risk of all-cause mortality and cancer mortality, respectively, after adjustment for gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, walking time, sleep duration, caloric intake, medical status, disease history, BMI, and triglyceride, creatinine, uric acid, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. A more robust association between ANGPTL2 levels and all-cause and cancer mortality was seen in participants with either frailties or with lifestyles of heavier drinking or current smoking. Elevated plasma ANGPTL2 levels are associated with high all-cause and cancer mortality in a community-dwelling sample of younger-old adults. These findings expand our knowledge of human aging and associated diseases.

Lower human defensin 5 in elderly people compared to middle-aged is associated with differences in the intestinal microbiota composition: the DOSANCO Health Study.

Recently, aging is considered a risk factor for various diseases. Although changes in the intestinal microbiota along with aging are thought to associate with the increased disease risk, mechanisms that cause age-related transition of the intestinal microbiota remain unknown. This study aims to clarify relationships between the amount of human defensin 5 (HD5), a Paneth cell α-defensin, which is known to regulate the intestinal microbiota, and age-related differences of the intestinal microbiota composition. Fecal samples from 196 healthy Japanese (35 to 81 years old) were collected and measured HD5 concentration. HD5 concentration in the elderly group (age > 70 years old) was significantly lower than the middle-aged group (age ≤ 70 years old). Furthermore, individual age was negatively correlated with HD5 concentration (r = - 0.307, p < 0.001). In ß-diversity, the intestinal microbiota of the elderly showed a significantly different composition compared to the middle-aged. At the genus level, relative abundance of Collinsella, Alistipes, Peptococcaceae; unassigned, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Weissella, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Megasphaera, and [Eubacterium] eligens group was significantly higher, and Lachnospiraceae; unassigned, Blautia, Anaerostipes, Fusicatenibacter, Dorea, and Faecalibacterium was significantly lower in the elderly compared to the middle-aged. In addition, HD5 concentration was negatively correlated with Alistipes, Peptococcaceae; unassigned, and Christensenellaceae R-7 group and positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae; unassigned and Dorea. These results provide novel insights into the immunosenescence of enteric innate immunity, indicating low HD5 is suggested to contribute to the age-related differences in the intestinal microbiota and may relate to increased risk of diseases in elderly people.

Leisure activities and instrumental activities of daily living: A 3-year cohort study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

AIM: We prospectively examined the association between leisure activities and changes in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among participants of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 49 732 JAGES participants (23 359 men and 26 373 women), aged ≥65 years, from 24 municipalities in Japan. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline data were obtained for 25 types of leisure activities in which the cohort members participated. Baseline (2010) and follow-up (2013) data on IADL were collected - the outcome indicated changes in IADL scores from 2010 to 2013. We regressed changes in IADL scores from the 2010 to 2013 to the number of leisure activities. RESULTS: Older adults who engaged in more leisure activities had higher changes in IADL scores than those who engaged in fewer leisure activities: the ß values (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the IADL scores were 0.001 [-0.04-0.04], 0.04 [0.01-0.08], 0.09 [0.05-0.13], 0.09 [0.05-0.14], 0.08 [0.02-0.13], and 0.13 [0.07-0.18] for having one, two, three, four, five, and more than six types of leisure activities (P for trend <0.001), respectively. Similar associations were found for different types of leisure activities, including predominantly physical and cultural activities. Statistically significant linear trends were obtained among the group, solitary, and other leisure activity subgroups (P for trend <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging engagement in leisure activities may promote maintenance of IADL among older populations. Different types of leisure activities appear to have similar positive impacts on IADL. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 152-159.

Association of gait with global cognitive function and cognitive domains detected by MoCA-J among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Gait was proved to be strongly associated with global cognitive function and multiple cognitive domains; however, previous research usually concentrated on individual gait parameters. This study used wearable sensors to measure gait parameters in different aspects and comprehensively explored the association of gait with global cognitive function and cognitive domains. METHODS: The data of this cross-sectional study were obtained from 236 community-dwelling Japanese older adults (125 men and 111 women) aged 70-81 years. Gait was measured by asking participants to walk a 6-m course and back using the Physilog® sensors (GaiUp®, Switzerland). Global cognitive function and cognitive domains were evaluated by face-to-face interviews using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Twenty gait parameters were summarized as independent gait factors using factor analysis. A generalized linear model and linear regression model were used to explore the relationship of gait with global cognitive function and cognitive domains adjusted for several confounding factors. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded four gait factors: general cycle, initial contact, propulsion, and mid-swing. Among them, general cycle factor was significantly associated with global cognitive function (ß = - 0.487, [- 0.890, - 0.085]) and executive function (P = 0.049); initial contact was associated with executive function (P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: General cycle of gait might be the better marker of global cognitive function and gait is most strongly associated with executive function. The longitudinal relationships should be examined in future cohort studies.

Comparison of dimension reduction methods on fatty acids food source study.

Serum fatty acids (FAs) exist in the four lipid fractions of triglycerides (TGs), phospholipids (PLs), cholesteryl esters (CEs) and free fatty acids (FFAs). Total fatty acids (TFAs) indicate the sum of FAs in them. In this study, four statistical analysis methods, which are independent component analysis (ICA), factor analysis, common principal component analysis (CPCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), were conducted to uncover food sources of FAs among the four lipid fractions (CE, FFA, and TG + PL). Among the methods, ICA provided the most suggestive results. To distinguish the animal fat intake from endogenous fatty acids, FFA variables in ICA and factor analysis were studied. ICA provided more distinct suggestions of FA food sources (endogenous, plant oil intake, animal fat intake, and fish oil intake) than factor analysis. Moreover, ICA was discovered as a new approach to distinguish animal FAs from endogenous FAs, which will have an impact on epidemiological studies. In addition, the correlation coefficients between a published dataset of food FA compositions and the loading values obtained in the present ICA study suggested specific foods as serum FA sources. In conclusion, we found that ICA is a useful tool to uncover food sources of serum FAs.