Associations between objectively measured overall and intensity-specific physical activity and phase angle in older adults.

Phase angle (PhA) is an indicator of cellular health and is positively associated with overall physical activity (PA). However, varied associations between different intensities of PA and PhA by body segment in older populations remain unexplored. We investigated the associations between overall and different intensities of PA and upper-, lower-, and whole-body PhA in older adults. Overall exposure to light-intensity (LPA), moderate-intensity (MPA), and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) was assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (GT3X + , ActiGraph). The outcome variables were upper-, lower-, and whole-body PhA measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (MC-780MA, TANITA). Multiple linear regression helped examine the associations between the exposure and outcome variables after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and accelerometer wear time. A cross-sectional analysis involved 166 community-dwelling older participants (mean age = 72.1 ± 5.5 years; 78.3% women). Overall PA was associated with larger upper- (B: 0.057, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.018-0.095) and whole-body PhA (B: 0.044, 95% CI 0.006-0.081). LPA was associated with larger upper-body PhA (B: 0.059, 95% CI 0.017-0.101), and MPA was associated with larger lower- (B: 0.273, 95% CI 0.128-0.419) and whole-body PhA (B: 0.141, 95% CI 0.002-0.280). VPA and PhA were not associated. Future interventions targeting PhA in older adults should consider the differential impact of PA intensity on various body segments of the PhA.

Capillary action-driven surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for the identification of phthalocyanine blue in modern paintings based on the BPG spot test.

A method for the extraction and accumulation of Ag nanoparticles utilizing capillary action through a piece of triangular-shaped cotton paper is reported. This method allowed the integration of SERS and the BPG spot test, which are typically employed for examining pigments on paper or in books. Malachite green oxalate was used as the model material for investigating the extent of enhancement when SERS was applied. The dynamic behavior of the Ag nanoparticles was also studied. When the cotton paper was pre-treated with malachite green oxalate, Ag nanoparticles could be extracted and accumulated on the triangular top, resulting in a dramatic SERS improvement. When malachite green oxalate (at a concentration of 10-6 M) was applied using this method, a dramatic analytical enhancement factor of approximately 3000% was obtained. Finally, the method developed in this study was successfully applied to the analysis of pigments in paintings from a university collection. The findings revealed that phthalocyanine blue was a popular pigment used in numerous paintings during the 1950s.

Household physical activity and subjective well-being: An international comparison among East Asian older adult populations.

PURPOSE: Engaging in lifelong physical activity has multiple health benefits for older populations. Household physical activity occupies older adults' awake time, and they can be an important energy expenditure during the day. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between older adults' household physical activity and subjective well-being in four East Asian societies. METHODS: The study design was a secondary data analysis. Data were retrieved from the module of Families 2016 in the database of the East Asian Social Survey. Participants were community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 70.30±7.50 years and who lived in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Data were collected by interviews via structured questionnaires between 2016 and 2018. Descriptive analyses, independent t-tests, and an analysis of covariance were performed for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: In total, there were 3,432 valid responses. Participants who lived in Taiwan had significantly lower levels of total household physical activity than those living in other societies. Older adults' household physical activity was found to significantly differ by age, educational degree, gender, religion, marital status, occupation, and whether living alone. Older adults with high levels of household physical activity had significantly higher self-rated health and marital satisfaction than those with low levels. CONCLUSIONS: Household physical activity has potential benefits for subjective well-being across international older adult populations. Increasing household physical activity is recommended for older married couples to maintain marital satisfaction.

Is overall and timing-specific physical activity associated with depression in older adults?

Objective: Regarding the circadian rhythm regulating an individual's response to external stimulation, it remains unclear whether older adults engaged in physical activity at different times of day may be differently related to depression symptoms. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between overall and timing-specific physical activity and depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical center in Taipei City, Taiwan, between September 2020 and December 2021. The participants were community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 who could walk independently and were not at high risk of cognitive dysfunction. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph) and categorized into timing-specific periods (morning: 06:01-12:00; afternoon: 12:01-18:00; evening: 18:01-24:00) as well as overall physical activity, which included both light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). A 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was utilized to assess and measure depressive symptoms. Multivariate linear regression models were estimated for data analysis. Results: A total of 180 older adults (55.0% female; 80.5 ± 7.1 years old; 18.3% at risk of depression) were included. On average, the participants spent 237.3 (± 85.7) minutes in LPA per day and 12.8 (± 17.0) minutes in MVPA per day. The results showed that overall MVPA engagement was associated with lower depressive-symptom scores [B = -1.357, 95% CI (-2.561, -0.153)] in older adults. However, no significant associations were observed between overall LPA, timing-specific MVPA and LPA, and depression in older adults. Conclusion: To prevent depression in older adults, it is advisable to accumulate a higher amount of MVPA throughout the entire day rather than engage in LPA. Further studies employing a prospective design are necessary to validate and strengthen our findings.

Associations of accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior and physical activity with sleep in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the non-linear relationships of objectively-measured sedentary behavior and physical activity with insomnia symptoms in older adults. We investigated such relationships of sedentary and physically-active behaviors with total sleep time and nocturnal wakefulness. METHODS: We recruited adults aged 60 years and above who have received health check-ups or been to geriatric outpatient services from a hospital setting. Sedentary and physically-active behaviors, total sleep time, and wakefulness time after sleep onset were measured by Actigraphy, and their relationships were estimated using generalized additive models. RESULTS: The 157 older adults receiving health-related services slept 7.5 h (20.8 min awake) on average per day. Total sleep time was negatively associated with sedentary and physically-active behaviors. By contrast, a U-shape relationship was found between sedentary behavior and wakefulness time after sleep onset, with a turning point at a daily sedentary time of 10.9 h. CONCLUSION: Longer high-intensity physical activity time was related to a shorter wakefulness time after sleep onset. By contrast, daily sedentary time longer than 10.9 h was related to shorter total sleep time but more nocturnal wakefulness time. Future nonpharmacological strategies for sleep improvement should consider the sedentary threshold.

Objective assessment of the association between frailty and sedentary behavior in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Given the inconsistent findings of the association between frailty and sedentary behavior in older adults, this cross-sectional study investigated the aforementioned association using four different frailty criteria and two sedentary behavior indices in older adults. METHODS: Data from older adults (age ≥ 65 y) who participated in health examinations or attended outpatient integrated clinics at a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan, were collected. Frailty was measured using the modified Fried Frailty Phenotype (mFFP), Clinical Frailty Scale in Chinese Translation (CFS-C), Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) index, and Clinical Frailty-Deficit Count (CF-DC) index; sedentary behavior was assessed with a waist-worn accelerometer. Adjusted linear regression ascertained the association between frailty and both sedentary behavior outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 214 participants (mean age 80.82 ± 7.14 y), 116 were women. The average total sedentary time and number of sedentary bouts were 609.74 ± 79.29 min and 5.51 ± 2.09 times per day, respectively. Frail participants had a longer total sedentary time (odds ratio [OR]: 30.13, P = .01 and 39.43, P < .001) and more sedentary bouts (OR: 3.50 and 5.86, both P < .001) on mFFP and CFS-C assessments, respectively. The SOF index revealed more sedentary bouts among frail than in robust participants (OR: 2.06, P = .009), without a significant difference in the total sedentary time. Frail participants defined by the CF-DC index were more likely to have frequent sedentary bouts (OR: 2.03, P = .016), but did not have a longer total sedentary time. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the frailty criteria adopted, frailty was positively associated with the number of sedentary bouts per day in older adults. A significant correlation between frailty and total sedentary time was detected only with mFFP and CFS-C indices. Further research may target decreasing the sedentary bouts in older adults as a strategy to improve frailty.

The Association between a Minimum Amount of Physical Activity and Subsequent Muscle Strength and Balance in Older Adults: A Prospective Study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between 15 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and subsequent muscle strength and balance in older adults. Data concerning community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (mean age, 69.5 years) were collected during the baseline period (2018) and at a 12-month follow-up survey (2019). Time spent performing MVPA was objectively assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT) at baseline. Upper and lower limb muscle strength were measured using handgrip strength and a five-times sit-to-stand test, respectively. Balance was assessed using a one-leg standing test. The 12-month variations in muscle strength and balance were calculated through subtracting follow-up data from baseline data. A forced entry-adjusted logistic regression analysis was conducted. In total, 65.2% of participants engaged in at least 15 min of daily MVPA in the baseline survey. After adjusting for confounders, older adults who achieved 15 min of daily MVPA during the baseline period were more likely to maintain or improve balance performance (odds ratio, 8.12). Performing 15 min of daily MVPA was found to benefit older adults' subsequent balance performance but not muscle strength.

Diurnal pattern of breaks in sedentary time and the physical function of older adults.

BACKGROUND: The association of breaks in sedentary time with outcomes of physical function can vary according to the time of day. We examined the association of the diurnal pattern of breaks in sedentary time with physical function outcomes in older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 115 older adults (≥60 years). The overall and time-specific breaks (morning: 06:00-12:00; afternoon: 12:00-18:00; evening: 18:00-24:00) in sedentary time were assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+). A break in sedentary time was defined as at least 1 min where the accelerometer registered ≥100 cpm following a sedentary period. Five physical function outcomes were assessed: handgrip strength (dynamometer), balance ability (single leg stance), gait speed (11-m walking), basic functional mobility (time up and go), and lower-limb strength (five times sit-to-stand). Generalized linear models were used to examine the associations of the overall and time-specific breaks in sedentary time with the physical function outcomes. RESULTS: Participants showed an average of 69.4 breaks in sedentary time during the day. Less frequent breaks in the evening (19.3) were found than that in the morning (24.3) and the afternoon (25.3) (p < 0.05). Breaks in sedentary time during the day were associated with less time on gait speed in older adults (exp (ß) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.98; p < 0.01). Time-specific analysis showed that breaks in sedentary time were associated with less time on gait speed (exp (ß) = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97; p < 0.01), basic functional mobility (exp (ß) = 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97; p < 0.01), and lower-limb strength (exp (ß) = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97; p < 0.01) in the evening only. CONCLUSION: A break in sedentary time, particularly during the evening, was associated with better lower extremity strength in older adults. Further strategies to interrupt sedentary time with frequent breaks, with an emphasis on evening hours, can be helpful to maintain and improve physical function in older adults.

Effect of isotemporal substitution of sedentary behavior with different intensities of physical activity on the muscle function of older adults in the context of a medical center.

BACKGROUND: Engaging in physical activity and reducing sedentary time in daily life may enable older individuals to maintain muscle mass. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing sedentary behavior with light physical activity (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on the muscle function of older adults at a medical center in Taiwan. METHODS: We recruited 141 older adults (51.1% men; 81.1 ± 6.9 years old) and asked them to wear a triaxial accelerometer on the waist to measure their sedentary behavior and physical activity. Functional performance was assessed based on handgrip strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, gait speed, and five-times-sit-to-stand test (5XSST). Isotemporal substitution analysis was performed to examine the effect of substituting 60 min of sedentary time with 60 min of LPA, MVPA, and combined LPA and MVPA in different proportions. RESULTS: Reallocating 60 min of sedentary behavior per day to LPA was associated with better handgrip strength (Beta [B] = 1.587, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.706, 2.468), TUG test findings (B = -1.415, 95% CI = -2.186, -0.643), and gait speed (B = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.007, 0.078). Reallocating 60 min of sedentary behavior per day to MVPA was associated with better gait speed (B = 0.105, 95% CI = 0.018, 0.193) and 5XSST findings (B = -0.060, 95% CI = -0.117, -0.003). In addition, each 5-min increment in MVPA in the total physical activity replacing 60 min of sedentary behavior per day resulted in greater gait speed. Replacing 60 min of sedentary behavior with 30-min of LPA and 30-min of MVPA per day significantly decreased the 5XSST test time. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that introducing LPA and a combination of LPA and MVPA to specifically replace sedentary behavior may help maintain muscle function in older adults.

Sedentary behaviour and sleep quality.

High-quality sleep is an important factor in sustaining health and improving well-being. Previous evidence has demonstrated the positive associations between increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour (SB) with sleep quality. The substitutional relationships between SB, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) need to be considered when examining how a particular behaviour may impact sleep quality. No studies, to our knowledge, have explored these substitutional relationships in middle-aged adulthood. Using an isotemporal substitution approach, this study examined the associations of replacing sedentary time with physical activity on sleep quality measures in a sample of middle-aged adults in Japan. Data from 683 adults aged 40-64 living in Japan were used. The average daily time spent in SB, LPA, and MVPA was objectively assessed by accelerometers. Two self-reported sleep quality measures were obtained using questionnaires, including rest by sleep and sleep quality. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations of SB, LPA, and MVPA with the sleep quality measures stratified by gender. We found that each 60 min unit of SB or LPA replaced with MVPA was favourably associated with rest by sleep among women (ß = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07, 0.28, p < 0.001; ß = 0.18, 95% CI 0.07, 0.32, p < 0.05, respectively). There were no significant associations between SB, LPA, and MVPA with sleep measures in men across all three models. These findings indicate that higher MVPA has a positive association with sleep quality in middle-aged women.

Relationship of sleep regularity with device-based sedentary behavior time and physical activity time in working adults.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association of sleep regularity with time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) in adults with full-time jobs. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Adults aged 21-64 years with full-time jobs were recruited between August 2019 and December 2020 in Taiwan. The time spent in SB/PA was assessed using triaxial accelerometers (Actigraph wGT3x-BT), and PA was further classified into light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Each participant recorded their daily sleep patterns and work hours in a log, which was further used to measure sleep variability and social jet lag. Linear regression was applied to examine the associations of indicators of sleep regularity with SB time and PA time. RESULTS: A total of 192 adults (men = 28.13%; mean age = 38.56 ± 8.89 years) were included in this study. After adjusting for potential covariates, greater social jet lag was related to more SB time (unstandardized coefficient [B] = 14.39, P = .005) and less LPA time (B = -0.02, P = .010). No evidence of an association between other indicators of sleep regularity with SB/PA time was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for a relationship between sleep regularity and SB/PA time in working adults. Maintaining regular sleep, especially a small social jet lag, was suggested to promote physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Future research is recommended to examine work-related influences on the associations and bidirectional relationship between sleep regularity and SB/PA.

Domain-specific Physical Activity and the Risk of All-cause Mortality Among Middle-aged and Older Adults in Taiwan: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of meeting leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) recommendations and household physical activity (HPA) on all-cause mortality in the Taiwanese population is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sufficient LTPA and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults and the role of HPA in those with insufficient LTPA. METHODS: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 4,960 participants aged ≥50 years from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA) survey. Physical activity patterns were assessed in 2003 and then followed up until 2015 for mortality through the National Death Registration Record. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of the 4,960 participants, 1,712 died of all-cause mortality. Compared to those who had insufficient LTPA, participants who engaged in sufficient LTPA showed a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.84, 95% CI, 0.73-0.97). For those with insufficient LTPA, HPA also had a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.75-0.96) among general population. Similar associations were observed in subsequent sensitivity analyses. The subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between HPA and reduced mortality risk was only found in the women with insufficient LTPA group. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that sufficient LTPA is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. If sufficient LTPA cannot be performed, additional HPA is related to lower mortality.

Associations of the audited residential neighborhood built-environment attributes with objectively-measured sedentary time among adults: a systematic review.

This study systematically reviewed the relevant studies and summarized the associations of objective measures of residential neighborhood built-environment attributes with sedentary time among adults. Published studies were obtained from PubMed and Scopus, restricting to those published in English language peer-reviewed journals to Oct. 2021. There were nine studies and 48 instances of estimated associations. Most instances showed no statistical-significant associations; by contrast, few instances showed that adults living in a neighborhood characterized by a high density of local destinations and connected intersections were associated with less sedentary time. The findings suggest that a high density of destinations and street intersections around residence may provide opportunities to transfer and access to services, thus reducing the sedentary time. Future research strengthening the research design and measurements are needed to investigate the potential explanations of the associations between residential neighborhood built environments and sedentary time in adults.

Sedentary Behavior and Phase Angle: An Objective Assessment in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations of the objectively assessed total sedentary behavior (SB) amount and SB patterns with phase angle (PhA) in older populations and to conduct a comparison analysis for those who are physically active (meet 150 min/week) and inactive (less than 150 min/week). During May to August 2023, a convenience sampling was used to recruit older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) living in a community in Taiwan. The total SB amount (minutes/day), SB patterns (including SB bouts and breaks), and physical activity were assessed by a triaxial accelerometer. A multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) was used to measure PhA. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between SB and PhA in the total number of participants and stratified in the physically active and inactive groups. For the whole sample (n = 166; mean age: 72.1 ± 5.5 years), the total SB amount and patterns of SB were not associated with PhA. For those physically active, the total SB amount and SB patterns were not associated with PhA. Among those physically inactive, the total SB amount was negatively related to PhA (B: -0.059, 95% CI: -0.118, 0.000). This study underscores the importance of minimizing the total SB amount in physically inactive older adults, providing evidence for future interventions targeting SB and PhA in this population.

Substituting sedentary time with physical activity in youngest-old to oldest-old community-dwelling older adults: Associations with body composition.

Introduction: Several studies have suggested that physical activity and sedentary behavior are strongly and independently associated with body composition and obesity. However, few studies have investigated whether substituting sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with body composition in older adults, especially among those older than 75 years. Methods: This study examined the associations between replacing sedentary time with physical activity and obesity indices in a sample of 199 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (52.3% women; 80.6 ± 7.0 years). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using the triaxial accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph). Body composition indices were computed through a bioelectrical impedance analysis of body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. Waist circumference and body mass index were measured by trained personnel. Isotemporal substitution analyses estimated these associations after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status. Results: The study showed that substituting 30 min of sedentary behavior per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower body fat percentage (B = -1.408, 95% CI = -2.55, -0.264), body mass index (B = -0.681, 95% CI = -1.300, -0.061), and waist circumference (B = -2.301, 95% CI = -4.062, -0.539) after adjusting for covariates. Substituting 30 min of light physical activity per day with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower waist circumference (B = -2.230, 95% CI = -4.173, -0.287) after adjusting for covariates. Stratified analyses indicated that associations were stronger in youngest-old older adults, and in older adults with a normal nutritional status (vs. underweight status). Discussion: These findings confirm the importance of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among older adults to improve their physical health, as well as highlighting the importance of taking into account nutritional status and age group.

Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior of Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome Attending and Not Attending a Small-Scale Community Workshop.

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) of adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) attending or not attending a small-scale community workshop (SSCW). A total of 18 adults with PWS were recruited in this study. Of these participants, 10 regularly attended an SSCW and 8 did not. All of the participants were asked to wear accelerometers for eight continuous days for measuring their PA and SB. The independent sample t-test was used. The results showed that the adults with PWS who attended the SSCW engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and daily steps than those who did not. By stratifying between daytime/nighttime on weekdays, we found the participants who attended the SSCW had higher total PA, MVPA, daily steps, as well as lower total sedentary time, during the daytime on weekdays than those who did not. Policies or programs promoting PA and reducing SB among adults with PWS should thus consider providing structured programs or courses in a community center.

Walking and cycling for health: A multi-group analysis of path models between genders.

AIMS: Walking and cycling are beneficial for urban adults' health. Transport and recreation are modifiable domains of major physical activity resources. The purposes of this study were to explore associations among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life by developing a path model and comparing gender differences. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: Participants were community-dwelling healthy urban adults aged 20-65 years. Data were collected between September 2019 and June 2020 by self-reported questionnaires, including health beliefs, the neighbourhood environment, walking and cycling behaviours and the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. An ANCOVA, chi-squared tests, partial least squares-path model and a multi-group analysis were performed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In total, 1294 valid responses were received, which included 41.27% men and 58.73% women. Men had lower walking behaviours and better self-efficacy than women. The developed path model indicated an acceptable model fit. Significant path coefficients were found among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. The path model between men and women found no significant differences in any path coefficients. Significant path coefficients of environmental factors with cycling behaviour and of walking behaviour with quality of life were found in men but not in women. CONCLUSION: Improving individuals' health beliefs, self-efficacy and perceived walkability and cyclability is a beneficial strategy for promoting physical activity. Walking and cycling behaviours are recommended to improve the quality of life of urban adult populations. IMPACTS: What problem did the study address? A large proportion of urban adult populations still have insufficient physical activity globally. It is essential that implications from an overall perspective of psychological and environmental factors and their interactions be integrated to develop efficient strategies for promoting physical activity and quality of life. What were the main findings? The developed path model with an acceptable model fit found that psychological and environmental factors were important in explaining urban adults' walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. Differences were not found between men's and women's path models. Where and on whom will the research have impact? Improving urban adults' psychological and environmental factors might be an efficient strategy for promoting sufficient physical activity. Men's low engagement in walking behaviours should garner increased attention. Providing equal opportunities for both genders to engage in walking and cycling behaviours are recommended for health promotion in urban regions.

Workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes and sitting at work and for transport among Japanese desk-based workers.

Workplace settings-both internal and external-can influence how workers are physically active or sedentary. Although research has identified some indoor environmental attributes associated with sitting at work, few studies have examined associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with workplace sitting time. We examined the cross-sectional associations of perceived and objective workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time at work and for transport among desk-based workers in Japan. Data were collected from a nationwide online survey. The Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (n = 2137) and Walk Score® (for a subsample of participants; n = 1163) were used to assess perceived and objective built-environment attributes of workplace neighbourhoods. Self-reported daily average sitting time at work, in cars and in public transport was measured using a Japanese validated questionnaire. Linear regression models estimated the associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time. All perceived workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes were positively correlated with Walk Score®. However, statistically significant associations with Walk Score® were found for sitting for transport but not for sitting at work. Workers who perceived their workplace neighbourhoods to be more walkable reported a longer time sitting at work and in public transport but a shorter sitting time in cars. Our findings suggest that walkable workplace neighbourhoods may discourage longer car use but have workplaces where workers spend a long time sitting at work. The latter finding further suggests that there may be missed opportunities for desk-based workers to reduce sitting time. Future workplace interventions to reduce sitting time may be developed, taking advantage of the opportunities to take time away from work in workplace neighbourhoods.

Nonlinear associations between sleep patterns and sarcopenia risks in older adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Despite considering it as a common geriatric condition, sarcopenia is linked to various behavioral factors that may be changeable. As sleep is one of the important routines in physiological homeostasis, further investigating the underlying relationships of sleep behavior with sarcopenia is urgently needed. We examined the association between sleep parameters (ie, sleep duration, bedtime, wake time, or midsleep time) and sarcopenia risks in older adults, in the total sample and age group subsamples. METHODS: A total of 1,068 older adults in Taiwan were included. Data on bedtime, wake time, and sleep duration were collected through telephone interview. Midsleep time was calculated by the midpoint of bedtime and wake time. Sarcopenia was screened by the SARC-F questionnaire composed of 5 questions (the strength, assistance in walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) as well as higher scores was related to greater risks. Generalized additive models were conducted to examine the nonlinear relationships between sleep parameters and sarcopenia risks. RESULTS: The covariate-adjusted analysis showed that a reverse J-shaped relationship for sleep duration and sarcopenia risk (P < .001) and a significant association for wake time and the SARC-F score (P = .009) in total sample, with considering age-related interaction. No associations were found in the other sleep parameters (bedtime and midsleep time) and sarcopenia in older adults. Similar associations were observed between wake time and the SARC-F score across age groups, while diverse associations of sleep duration with the SARC-F score were found in different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The sleep pattern is significantly associated with sarcopenia risks in aging adults. Improving inappropriate sleep behaviors in older adults is suggested to prevent a decline in muscle function and promote healthy aging. CITATION: Huang W-C, Lin C-Y, Togo F, et al. Nonlinear associations between sleep patterns and sarcopenia risks in older adults. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(3):731-738.

Smart Wearable Device Users' Behavior Is Essential for Physical Activity Improvement.

BACKGROUNDS: This study aimed to explore the effect on physical activity and sedentary behavior of users of wearable devices, and understand the association between physical activity and behavior. METHODS: This study conducted a three-arm, randomized controlled trial for 12 weeks. Healthy adults without experience of using a wearable device were recruited and were randomly assigned to a control group with a mobile app and two experimental groups with different smart wearable devices. Data were collected through questionnaires. RESULTS: No significant effect of group, time, or group-by-time interaction among groups for physical activity, sedentary time, or sleep quality was found. Wearing duration significantly positively predicted changes in low-intensity and total physical activity. The number of times the device was checked negatively predicted a change in sedentary time. CONCLUSIONS: The behavior of wearable device users is an essential factor for successfully increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary time.