Implications of refrigerator management on subjective memory complaints among Japanese community-dwelling older adults.

AIM: Older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) may experience very minor difficulties in daily activities. Although caregivers and occupational therapists who support community-dwelling older adults are aware of the existence of characteristic behaviours related to refrigerator management, no specific studies have been conducted. This study aimed to examine the implications of refrigerator management for older adults with SMC. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 3000 randomly selected members of Consumer's Co-operative Kagoshima. Of the returned responses, a total of 282 older adults were analyzed. Analyzed subjects were divided into two groups: SMC (+) group (n = 74) and SMC (-) group (n = 192). A questionnaire was created by four occupational therapists and used to assess the characteristics of analyzed subjects and their abilities to manage the refrigerator. The observation list for early signs of dementia was also utilised. A multiple logistic analysis was performed to examine the association between SMC and refrigerator management. RESULTS: The SMC (+) group had a significantly higher number of refrigerator management errors than the SMC (-) group (P = 0.008). The SMC (+) group had more errors than the SMC (-) group in the following four items regarding refrigerator management; the refrigerator has a lot of the same foods / expired food, the person does not know what's in the refrigerator, the person cannot find what he/she needs in the refrigerator. Moreover, SMC was associated with the item 'the person does not know what is in the refrigerator' (odds ratio 7.44, 95% CI 1.51-43.8, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that older adults with SMC had several problems regarding refrigerator management. Evaluating refrigerator management among older adults with SMC may help consider multifaceted support.

Relationship between grave visitation and apathy among community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that involvement in religious activities has a positive impact on psychological aspects. In this study, the relationship between grave visitation, a standard religious activity in Japan, and depression and apathy symptoms was investigated among older adults in Japan. METHODS: A total of 638 older adults who participated in a community-based health check survey (Tarumizu Study 2019) were interviewed regarding the presence or absence of grave visitation, frequency, travel time, means of transportation, and flower offerings. Apathy and depressive symptoms were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The participants were categorised into three grave visitation groups, namely, frequent (more than once per week), occasional (less than once per week), and non-visiting. Outcomes were compared between the frequency groups, and Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between grave visitation frequency and apathy and depression. RESULTS: Of the participants, 91.8% reported regular grave visitation. The non-visiting group had a significantly higher prevalence of apathy symptoms (44.2%) than the visiting groups. Furthermore, using the frequent group as the reference, Poisson regression analysis adjusted for potential covariates demonstrated that no grave visitation was significantly related to apathy (prevalence ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.05, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Not practising grave visitation was significantly related to apathy among older adults. Helping older adults to visit graves may prevent apathy by facilitating motivation and increasing activity.

Difficulties in the Use of Everyday Technology among Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaint and Cognitive Decline.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to use everyday technology (ET) is becoming increasingly necessary for maintaining domestic and social lives. For older adults, difficulties with using ETs can begin at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) state and may indicate increasing cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to conduct a detailed investigation into the ability to use ETs among Japanese older community-dwelling adults at 3 stages of cognitive function and the ability to carry out daily activities. METHOD: We analyzed family members' responses to questions about older adults with cognitive decline in their families. A total of 168 older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) or cognitive decline and inconvenience in daily life were analyzed. A questionnaire was used to assess the characteristics, ability to use ETs, and ability to manage refrigerator contents, all of which can be early signs of dementia. Participants were divided 3 groups by the type of dementia: SMC (n = 77), MCI (n = 36), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 55) for comparison. RESULT: The observation list of early signs of dementia (OLD) total score indicated a significant positive correlation with the number of ET errors (r = 0.37, p < 0.001) and number of difficulties with refrigerator management (r = 0.18, p = 0.031). Regarding number of ET errors, there was a significant main effect for the 3 groups, and the SMC group made significantly fewer errors than the AD group (p = 0.02). In 7 of the 11 ET categories, errors with using ETs were associated with all 3 groups, with the SMC group making fewer errors, and the AD group making more. Regarding difficulties with refrigerator management, 2 out of 9 problems were associated with the 3 groups, with the SMC group having fewer difficulties and the AD group having more. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the ability to use ETs and to manage refrigerator contents begins to decline at the SMC stage. Further evaluation of the ability to use ETs is needed for older adults with SMC so that adequate support in the context of the individual can be provided.

Characteristic of process analysis on instrumental activities of daily living according to the severity of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the characteristic of impaired and unimpaired Instrumental Activities of daily living (IADL) processes with the severity of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using the Process Analysis of Daily Activity for Dementia (PADA-D). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: 13 medical and care centers in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: 115 community-dwelling older adults with AD. METHODS: The severity of cognitive impairment was classified by Mini-Mental State Examination (20 ≥ mild group, 20 < moderate group ≥ 10, 10 < severe group), and IADL scores and eight IADL items in PADA-D were compared among three groups after adjusting for covariates. Rate of five feasible processes included in each IADL of PADA-D was compared. RESULTS: IADL score showed a decrease in independence with the severity of AD except for Use modes of transportation and Managing finances, which was especially pronounced in Shopping (F = 25.58), Ability to use the telephone (F = 16.75), and Managing medication (F = 13.1). However, when the PADA-D was examined by process, some processes that were impaired and unimpaired with the severity of cognitive impairment were clear. For example, Plan a meal was impaired (ES = 0.29) with the severity, but Prepare the food was not in Cooking performance. CONCLUSIONS: We suggested that detailed process analysis in IADLs can clarify the characteristic of processes that are impaired and unimpaired with the severity of cognitive impairment in older adults with AD living in the community. Our findings may be useful for rehabilitation and care in IADL to continue living at home.

Associations between apathy and comprehensive frailty as assessed by the Kihon Checklist among community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a multidimensional condition characterised by reduced physical and psychological resilience. Older adults also frequently demonstrate apathy, suggesting that it shares similar neuro-physiological pathways with frailty. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between apathy and frailty as defined by a comprehensive assessment. METHODS: We analyzed 882 older adults (mean age: 74.4 ± 6.4 years; 62.1% female) who participated in a community-based health check survey (Tarumizu Study). Apathy was measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-3A, a three-item subset of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and frailty by the Kihon Checklist of physical, psychological, functional, and social status. Associations were examined by multinomial logistic regression with frailty status (robust, pre-frailty, frailty) as the dependent variable, apathy as the independent variable, and sociodemographic factors, medications, cognitive function, functional capacity, and mood symptoms as potential confounders. RESULTS: Apathy was observed in 23.7% of individuals, and logistic regression revealed significant associations with both pre-frailty and frailty after confounder adjustment (pre-frailty: odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.22-2.64; frailty: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.63-6.42). Participants with apathy also exhibited greater deficits in the Kihon Checklist subdomains instrumental activities of daily living (P = 0.022), physical function (P < 0.001), oral function (P < 0.001), and cognitive function (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the importance of comprehensive frailty assessment and demonstrate that apathy can have pervasive deleterious effects on geriatric health.

Differences by cognitive impairment in detailed processes for basic activities of daily living in older adults with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of activities of daily living in patients with dementia has a fundamental and lasting impact on their quality of life and requires a detailed assessment. This study investigated to clarify characteristic of basic activities of daily living (BADL) processes with the severity of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults with dementia using the Process Analysis of Daily Activity for Dementia (PADA-D). METHODS: Participants were recruited from outpatient departments of 24 hospitals, daycare centres, and home rehabilitation services in Japan. The severity of cognitive impairment was determined using the Mini-mental State Examination (mild: score ≥ 20; moderate: 10 ≤ score < 20; severe: score < 10). Patient's BADL were assessed according to the PADA-D by observation of the occupational therapist and interviews with family members. Basic information and the scores of BADL items of the PADA-D were compared between the three groups. Subsequently, we compared the percentage of independent or non-independent processes included in the sub-items of BADL in the PADA-D. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were included in the analysis. Performance on BADL was shown to decrease significantly with increasing severity of cognitive impairment. The percentage of all BADL processes performed ranged from 58% to 100% in mild, 38% to 97% in moderate, and 0% to 88% in severe. Some of the processes included in BADL of PADA-D showed no significant differences in independence between the three groups. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Most BADL processes differed with respect to different independence rates depending on the severity of cognitive impairment of the older adults with dementia. However, some BADL processes were not associated with the severity of cognitive impairment. Our findings may suggest that a detailed BADL assessment of patients with dementia is useful in terms of caregiver education to avoid excessive caregiving and in predicting BADL impairment.

Association between apathy and satisfaction with meaningful activities in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the relationship between apathy, meaningful activities, and satisfaction with such activities of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: We analyzed 235 older adults with MCI (≥65 years, mean age: 76.9 ± 6.4 years, women: 63.4%) who participated in a community-based health check survey (Tarumizu Study 2018). MCI was defined as at least 1.5 SD below the reference threshold (age- and education-adjusted score) on one or more of the computerized cognitive test including memory, attention, executive functions, and processing speed. Apathy symptoms were assessed using three of the 15 items of Geriatric Depression Scale. Participants selected meaningful activities from the 95 activities of the Aid for Decision-Making in Occupation Choice and evaluated their satisfaction and performance. RESULTS: Apathy in MCI was prevalent by 23.8%. The categories of meaningful activities revealed no difference, with, or without apathy. Logistic regression analysis showed that activity satisfaction was significantly associated with apathy after adjusting for age, sex, education, instrumental activities of daily living, depressive symptoms, and MCI subtype (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.88, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with the activities that are deemed meaningful is associated with apathy among community-dwelling older adults with MCI.

Impact of sensory impairments on dementia incidence and symptoms among Japanese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Dementia and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia affect older adults' care-need levels. With aging comes an increase in the incidence of sensory impairments, which promotes the development of dementia. We investigated the association between sensory impairments - visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), and dual sensory impairment (DSI), the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and dementia incidence. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that used Japanese long-term care insurance certification data from 2010 to 2017 of City A. The 2190 older adults who did not have dementia in 2010 were classified into four impairment categories: VI, HI, DSI, and no sensory impairment. The incidence of dementia was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank testing. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to investigate the risk of developing dementia associated with sensory impairments, compared to the risk for no sensory impairment. Pearson's χ2 tests were used to compare the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia among the four groups. RESULTS: HI and DSI were associated with a higher cumulative dementia incidence compared to no sensory impairment (log-rank χ2 = 10.42; P  < 0.001, and log-rank χ2 = 39.92; P  < 0.001, respectively), and DSI showed higher cumulative dementia incidence than HI (log-rank χ2 = 11.37; P  = 0.001). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that DSI is the greatest risk factor for developing dementia among sensory impairments (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.22-1.71; P < 0.001). Older adults with VI had a significantly higher prevalence of day-night reversal than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that older adults with sensory impairments have a high incidence of dementia, with DSI presenting the greatest risk. Older adults with VI were found to be more likely to have day-night reversal symptoms when dementia occurs.

Participation Patterns and Associated Factors in Japanese Children With Autism.

BACKGROUND: Children's participation is an important outcome for children, families, and rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: We compared participation patterns (home and community) of 6- to 12-year-old Japanese children with autism and children with typical development (TD) and explored the associations of participation with familial, environmental, and child-related factors. METHOD: Twenty-five mothers of children with autism and 21 mothers of TD children completed a survey covering their child's participation and environment, family empowerment, autism symptoms, sensory processing, behavior, and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Children with autism showed restricted home and community participation. Home involvement was associated with family empowerment and the children's age, whereas home frequency was linked to environmental supportiveness and household income. CONCLUSION: Japanese children with autism need appropriate support to address decreased participation. Occupational therapists may focus on family empowerment and the child's environment to facilitate the home participation of children with autism.

Participation Patterns and Associated Factors in Japanese Children with AutismParticipation in daily activities is essential for children's health and well-being. We investigated the characteristics of and factors associated with home and community participation among Japanese children with autism without intellectual disability. The degree of environmental support at home, maternal perceptions of family empowerment, annual household income, and the age of the children were all associated with home participation in children with autism. These findings may be useful for professionals who support the daily lives of Japanese children with autism. They also suggest the importance of professionals focusing on children's environment and family when effectively supporting their home lives.

Does Dialysis Therapy Cause Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults? A Propensity Score Matching Retrospective Study From a Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance Certification Survey.

This study explores the longitudinal connection between dialysis therapy in older adults and the incidence of cognitive impairment, and trends of general abilities. We conducted a retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) analysis of data from the care-needs certification survey in City A, Japan, spanning 2017 to 2021. Our sample comprised 11 443 initially cognitively intact older adults from the baseline year 2017. Among them, individuals had received dialysis therapy at baseline, and 216 individuals were included after PSM. The dialysis group had a significantly lower incidence of cognitive impairment during follow-up than the control group (P = 0.02). The competing risk of death was significantly higher in the dialysis group than in the control group (P < .001). Both groups showed a decline in their comprehensive ability over the time. There have been several reports of a negative association between dialysis and cognitive impairment, but more detailed investigation of the longitudinal relationship may be needed. Comprehensive support remains critical for both dialysis and non-dialysis older adults.

Smartphone Proficiency in Community-Dwelling Older Adults is Associated With Higher-Level Competence and Physical Function: A Population-Based Age-Specific Cross-Sectional Study.

With the rapid development of information and communication technology, smartphone ownership has increased among older adults. While previous research has examined the impact of smartphone use on the health of older adults, this study focuses on the less-explored relationship between smartphone use, proficiency, and health-related outcomes including higher-level competence. The study was a cross-sectional survey of 208 community-dwelling older adults who used smartphones daily. Smartphone use, including years of use and applications, was assessed and categorized by age group. Health-related outcomes were measured, including cognitive and psychological function, higher-level competence, basic daily abilities, and physical function. The results indicated that smartphone proficiency decreased with age, with older adults primarily using basic smartphone applications. Notably, higher smartphone proficiency was positively associated with higher-level competence and physical functions. The study underscores the importance of considering smartphone proficiency when assessing older adults' life skills and physical performance in our digital society.

Age-specific comparisons in the rate of force development of toe pressure strength and its association with the timed up and go test.

PURPOSE: It has recently been recommended that Rate of Force Development (RFD) be evaluated in addition to maximal muscle strength. There are no studies on RFD of toe pressure strength, and its importance in older adults and the extent to which it is associated with aging needs to be clarified. This study purpose was to examine the association between the RFD of toe pressure strength and timed up and go test (TUG) in an age-specific study. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study. Participants in the study included 159 younger adults (26.3 ± 13.1 years, 52% male) and 88 older adults (75.0 ± 6.2 years, 26% male). The RFD of toe pressure strength was determined from the force-time curve obtained during the toe pressure strength assessment, and the ability to exert maximum muscle force in the shortest possible time was assessed. Regression analysis was performed for each group to test the association between RFD of toe pressure strength and TUG by age. RESULTS: Younger adults showed no association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength, and significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength was found only in the older adults (standard regression coefficient = - 0.19, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: This study showed a significant association between TUG and RFD of toe pressure strength in older adults. These findings show that RFD is one of the functions that should be assessed, particularly in older adults. Furthermore, it was suggested that approaching RFD could improve gait, standing, and sitting movements.

Effect of Occupation-Based Intervention Using the ADOC-H Combined With Physical Function-Based Intervention on Patients With Distal Radius Fractures: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Occupation-based intervention (OBI) involves daily and meaningful activities for evaluation and intervention. Recently, the "aid for decision-making in occupation choice for hand" (ADOC-H) was developed to facilitate OBI in patients with hand injuries. We aimed to examine the efficacy of OBI using the ADOC-H combined with physical function-based interventions (PBI) for patients with distal radius fractures (DRF). Material and methods: Patients with DRF were retrospectively allocated to two groups, ADOC-H group (n = 14) and PBI group (n = 14), and compared. Results: Improvements in the Pain Catastrophizing Scale magnification and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores were significantly higher in the ADOC-H group than in the PBI group (p < .05). The groups showed no differences in measure of physical function, such as range of motion and grip strength. Conclusion: OBI using the ADOC-H combined with PBI is clinically useful for patients with DRF as it promotes use of the injured hand for daily activities in a step-by-step approach, improving psychological difficulties in using the hand.

Real-World Navigation With Application: Characteristics of Gaze Behavior and Associated Factors in Older Adults.

Background and Objectives: Advancing age might impair real-world navigation ability. The use of mobile devices by older adults has grown rapidly in recent years. Navigation applications (apps) in mobile devices may facilitate the freedom of outings for older adults. Our aim is to investigate age-related differences in real-world app-based navigation walking in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and gaze behavior; and to explore clinical factors associated with navigation walking in older adults. Research Design and Methods: A total of 20 community-dwelling older adults and 16 young adults completed a route navigation task using a navigation app while recording their gaze behavior. Outcomes were compared in both groups and a general linear regression was used to explore clinical factors associated with app-based navigation walk in older adults. Results: Compared with young participants, older participants had more stops and root errors and less fixation time, smaller amplitude of saccades. Additionally, older adults were more likely to glance at their smartphones while app-based navigation walking. Furthermore, gait speed and the following assessment scores were significantly associated with navigation walking in older adults: Mini-Mental State Examination, Life-Space Assessment, and the short version of the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire. Discussion and Implications: For app-based navigation walks, differences in accuracy and gaze behavior were found to exist with age. Additionally, efficient real-world navigation walks in older adults require the extent of life space and proficiency with mobile devices, along with walking speed and cognitive function. It is possible that age-related functional decline, such as the visual field and shifting attention between mobile devices and the real world, may have influenced the results. The study also suggests the need to understand the level of proficiency with mobile devices so that older adults can continue to go out freely. These findings give the basis for providing older adults with appropriate navigation assistance.

Usefulness of navigation application for outdoor mobility guides in community-dwelling older adults: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine a mobile device navigation application's (apps) usefulness as a guide based on the required time and accuracy of moving to a destination for community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Twelve older adults, aged ≥65 years (mean age 77.0 ± 8.0, 62% female) who used the day-care centre for older adults, based on the long-term care insurance system in Kagoshima Prefecture, participated in this study. Study participants performed a Route Navigation Task (RNT), which is a simple real-world navigation test based on the actual living environment, after a brief assessment of physical function, cognitive function, and daily living routine. RNT required that participants arrive at a destination for the shortest time, under three tasks: map-, app-, and photo-language. The order of implementation of each task, determined by one of the tasks, was randomized, with a span of a minimum 1 month between tasks. RESULTS: The app-task resulted in a significantly shorter amount of travel time than did the other tasks (p < 0.05). The factors considerably correlating with travel time in the app-task were walking speed, mobile device proficiency, years of mobile device use, and higher-order activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested the possibility that the navigation app was useful as efficient outdoor mobility support, and healthcare providers should encourage the use of mobile devices for improving the active lifestyle of the community-dwelling older adults.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe navigation apps in mobile devices are expected to be useful for community-dwelling older adults.We examined the effect of navigation app use on path execution using three tasks in RNT and what factors are associated with the ability of route navigation.A significant reduction in travel time when RNT was performed using a navigation app compared to the other two tasks (map, photo-language).Regardless of cognitive function, mobile device proficiency, and mobile device usage were associated with navigation app use.This study suggests the usefulness of a navigation application in providing route assistance to community-dwelling older adults.

Risk factors for nursing home admission among older adults: Analysis of basic movements and activities of daily living.

This retrospective study aimed to clarify the risk of older adults' nursing home placement in terms of basic movements and activities of daily living (ADLs) by analyzing data from a long-term care insurance certification survey in 2016‒2018 in City A. Of the 21,520 people certified as needing care, 16,865 could be followed up until 2018. Data on sex, age, household structure, and level of care required were obtained. Those who lived at home and at nursing homes were categorized as the "Unchanged group" and the "Changed group," respectively. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was performed, with group type as the dependent variable and basic movement and ADL scores as the independent variables. For factor analysis according to care level, participants were classified into support need levels 1 and 2, care need levels 1 and 2, and care need levels 3, 4, and 5. For those categorized into support need levels 1 and 2, standing on one leg and transferring (basic movements) and urination and face cleaning (ADLs) were associated with nursing home placement. For those in care need levels 1 and 2, getting up and transferring (basic movements) and bathing, urination, face cleaning, and hair styling (ADL) were significantly associated with nursing home placement. For those in care need levels 3, 4, and 5, sitting and transferring (basic movements) and self-feeding and defecation (ADL) were significant. Occupational therapists must focus on older adults' declining ADLs and basic movements and relay the necessary information to patients, families, and other healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate and prompt care delivery.

Factors influencing postpartum depression among Japanese parents: A prospective longitudinal study.

AIM: Postpartum depression (PPD) may have negative effects on the parents and lead to impaired cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioral development in their children. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with PPD in parents during the first year after delivery. METHODS: This study used a self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaires were mailed at 5 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after delivery, respectively. The particpants were 107 pairs of mothers and fathers. PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data on sense of coherence (SOC), Quality Marriage Index, Social Support Scale, Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, and sociodemographic variables were collected. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the strength of the association between several variables and the EPDS at each survey period for fathers and mothers, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of PPD in the first-year postpartum ranged from 12.1%-23.4% to 7.5%-8.4% for fathers and mothers, respectively. SOC had the strongest impact on EPDS scores for both fathers and mothers at all four survey periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that stress coping skills are an important factor affecting PPD throughout the first-year postpartum for both fathers and mothers.

Association between Toe Pressure Strength in the Standing Position and Maximum Walking Speed in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Considering concerns about conventional toe grip strength, we devised a method to measure toe pressure strength in the standing position, which is close to the actual motion. This study examined the association between toe pressure strength in the standing position and walking speed among older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 150 community-dwelling older adults (81±8 years, 73% female) who participated in the physical fitness test. We analyzed the correlation between the participants' maximum walking speed and physical function. Furthermore, we performed regression analysis with the maximum walking speed as the dependent variable to examine the association with toe pressure strength in the standing position. We also examined the association between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position by introducing a covariate. RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position, with a moderate effect size (r=0.48, p<0.001). Moreover, multiple regression analysis with covariates showed an association between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position (standardization factor=0.13, p<0.026). CONCLUSION: Toe pressure strength in the standing position was associated with maximum walking speed. This finding clarifies the significance of assessing toe pressure strength in the standing position and suggests that enhanced toe pressure strength in the standing position may increase maximum walking speed.

Associations between Optimism and Attentional Biases as Measured by Threat-Avoidance and Positive-Search Tasks.

Evidence suggests that optimism has a positive impact on health status. Attentional bias modification (ABM) may be beneficial for enhancing optimism, but its effective application requires a detailed investigation of the association between attentional bias and optimism. This study aimed to determine the association between attentional bias and optimism based on different task types. Eighty-four participants completed the attentional bias measures using the dot-probe task (DPT), emotional visual search task (EVST) paradigms, and psychological assessments. Optimism was assessed using the Life Orientation Test-Revised with subscales for optimism and pessimism. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression analysis were applied to investigate the association between optimism and attentional bias. Neither the attentional bias derived from DPT nor EVST was significantly correlated with optimism total score or subscales. Regression analysis also showed no association between attentional bias and optimism (DPT, ß = 0.12; EVST, ß = 0.09), optimism subscales (DPT, ß = 0.09; EVST, ß = 0.17), or pessimism subscales (DPT, ß = -0.10; EVST, ß = 0.02). Our findings showed no evidence that attentional biases derived from either the DPT or EVST measures are associated with optimism or pessimism. Further studies are needed to effectively adapt the ABM to enhance optimism.

Domains of the Kihon Checklist Associated with Prefrailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Various functions are involved in prefrailty. However, no studies have examined more relevant functions. Therefore, this study examined the domains of the Kihon Checklist (KCL) associated with prefrailty by comparing them to robustness measures, using the KCL to comprehensively assess life-related functions in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: The 194 (mean age, 75±6 years) participants were community-dwelling older adults. Their robustness and preferences were assessed using the Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Comprehensive life-related functions were assessed using the KCL, and each physical function was measured. RESULTS: The main KCL characteristics associated with robustness and prefrailty were physical function (odds ratio [OR]=1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.88), nutritional status (OR=8.16; 95% CI, 2.96-22.48), and depressed mood (OR=3.46; 95% CI, 1.76-6.79). In particular, older adults had difficulty moving, including climbing stairs and getting up from a chair, which suggested a strong fear of falling. The participants also reported psychological characteristics such as low life fulfillment, a low sense of self-usefulness, and a strong sense of boredom. CONCLUSIONS: Prefrail individuals were characterized by poor physical function and nutritional status, as well as depressive mood. Prefrailty may be prevented or improved by approaches to improve physical function and fear of falling in addition to psychological interventions that encourage activity and a sense of self-usefulness.