[The association between alcohol consumption and Mild Cognitive Impairment: the Toon Health Study].

AIM: The effects of alcohol consumption on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) among the Japanese population had not been fully examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between alcohol consumption and MCI among the Japanese elderly population. METHODS: In total, 421 men and 700 women aged 60-84 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Alcohol consumption was estimated according to frequency and amount of major alcoholic beverages (i.e., beer, Japanese sake, shochu, and wine) consumed by each individual using a self-administered questionnaire. MCI was assessed using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Multivariable odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MCI according to alcohol consumption were calculated using logistic models. We further analyzed the associations of the major alcoholic beverages with MCI. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 50.4% among the male participants and 31.4% among the females. A positive association between alcohol consumption and MCI was observed in men, but not in women. The multivariable OR (95% CI) of MCI for ≥ 2 go (46 g ethanol) /day vs. non-drinkers was 1.78 (0.93-3.40, p for trend = 0.045) in men and for ≥ 1 go (23 g ethanol) /day was 0.96 (0.39-2.38, p for trend = 0.92) in women, respectively. We also observed an association between shochu consumption and MCI in men, whereby the multivariable OR (95% CI) of MCI for each 1 go increment was 1.57 (1.18-2.07). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that alcohol consumption in moderation may contribute to the prevention of MCI development in men.

Factors related to the urination methods of elderly people with incontinence who require at-home nursing care.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the urination status among elderly people with incontinence who require at-home nursing care as well as the status of their family caregivers, and to identify the factors related to their urination methods. METHODS: In the present study, questionnaires were distributed to 101 elderly subjects (n=101) and their caregivers. RESULTS: The most prevalent urination method was the collaboration of toilet and adult diapers (69, 68.8%).There was a significantly larger number of patients who used a toilet <4 times and who had a "moderate" amount of incontinence and patients who used toilet 4-8 times and had a "slight" amount of incontinence (p<0.05). We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis using the stepwise method. We used 8 items from the responses of the elderly subjects and their caregivers that were identified as being independently associated with the urination method using the chi-squared test (or Fisher's exact probability test), with the urination method as the dependent variable. Among elderly people, the ability to use a toilet properly (p=0.004) and independent mobility (p=0.028) strongly influenced their use of a toilet for urination. Among caregivers, the influencing factor was not thinking that they have to use the toilet even though they are unable to urinate (p=0.027). CONCLUSION: The use of a toilet for urination by elderly people was influenced by their physical functions and by the caregivers' attitudes toward excretion-related nursing care. When providing urination assistance, it is important for caregivers to maintain the physical functions of the elderly by providing support when necessary. It is also important to assess the bladder function by, methods such, as measuring the amount of residual urine and cooperate with a physician.