Skin carotenoid scores and metabolic syndrome in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama study.

BACKGROUND: Higher vegetable intake is being promoted as an initiative to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Carotenoids are yellow or red pigment components and are widely present in vegetables. Since ingested carotenoids accumulate in the skin, skin carotenoid levels are a quantitative indicator of vegetable intake. Recently, noninvasive optical sensors for assessing skin carotenoid levels were developed. We here examined the association between skin carotenoid scores measured using optical sensors and the presence of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 1618 individuals (604 men and 1014 women) aged ≥ 40 years (mean age 63.1 years) participated in the study. Skin carotenoid scores were determined using a noninvasive optical sensor based on multiple spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the Joint Scientific Statement criteria developed by six international scientific societies. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.3% (n = 506). A remarkably strong association was found between higher skin carotenoid scores and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome after adjusting for confounders. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for the presence of metabolic syndrome in individuals with the highest quartile of skin carotenoid scores was 0.39 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.55) compared to those with the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that higher skin carotenoid scores measured by non-invasive optimal sensors are significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having metabolic syndrome in the general Japanese population.

Plasma biomarkers for predicting the development of dementia in a community-dwelling older Japanese population.

AIM: To assess the association between plasma amyloid ß (Aß) 42/40, phosphorylated tau (p-τ)181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or neurofilament light chain (NfL) and the risk of dementia and to determine whether these plasma biomarkers could improve the ability to predict incident dementia in a general older population. METHODS: A total of 1346 Japanese community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years without dementia were followed prospectively for 5.0 years. Plasma biomarkers were quantified using a Simoa HD-X analyzer. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios of each plasma biomarker level for the risk of dementia. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 151 participants developed dementia, of whom 108 had Alzheimer disease (AD) and 43 non-Alzheimer dementia (non-AD). Lower plasma Aß42/40 levels and higher plasma p-τ181 levels were significantly associated with developing AD but not non-AD, whereas significant associations were observed between higher plasma levels of GFAP and NfL and risk of both AD and non-AD (all P for trend <0.05). In addition, adding these four plasma biomarkers into a model consisting of the total score of the dementia risk model significantly improved the predictive ability for incident dementia. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that plasma Aß42/40 and p-τ181 are specific markers of AD, and plasma GFAP and NfL are potential biomarkers for all-cause dementia in the general Japanese older population. In addition, the measurement of these plasma biomarkers may be a useful and relatively low-invasive procedure for identifying individuals at high risk for developing dementia in clinical practice.

Inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood are associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus in adulthood in a general Japanese population: a cross-sectional analysis from the Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between parenting styles during childhood and diabetes in adulthood in a Japanese community. METHODS: In 2011, 710 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged ≥ 40 years were assessed for the presence of diabetes and for their perceptions of the parenting style of their parents, as measured using the "care" and "overprotection" scales of the Parental Bonding Instrument. Care and overprotection scores for each parent were dichotomized by age-specific median values. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, a 2-h post-loaded glucose level of ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, and/or the current use of insulin or oral glucose-lowering agents. The odds ratios (ORs) for prevalent diabetes were calculated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes was 14.9%. Subjects with a high paternal overprotection score had a significantly greater likelihood of prevalent diabetes than those with a low paternal overprotection score after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.77), while there was no significant association between paternal care and diabetes. Additionally, the multivariable-adjusted ORs for the presence of diabetes were significantly higher in subjects with a low maternal care score (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.00-2.60) or in subjects with a high maternal overprotection score (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.08-2.80). Moreover, the subjects with a low care score and high overprotection score for both their father and mother had a significantly higher multivariable-adjusted OR of diabetes than those with a high care score and low overprotection score for both parents (OR 2,12, 95%CI 1.14-3.95). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood may contribute to the development of diabetes in adulthood.

Risks of Mortality and Airflow Limitation in Japanese Individuals with Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry.

Rationale: Several Western studies have reported that participants with preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) have higher risks of airflow limitation (AFL) and death. However, evidence in East Asian populations is limited. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between PRISm and the risks of death and incident AFL in a Japanese population. Methods: A total of 3,032 community-dwelling Japanese participants aged ⩾40 years were seen in follow-up for a median of 5.3 years by annual spirometry examinations. Participants were classified into lung function categories at baseline as follows: normal spirometry (FEV1/FVC ⩾0.70 and FEV1 ⩾80% predicted), PRISm (⩾0.70 and <80%), AFL Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 1 (<0.70 and ⩾80%), and AFL Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2-4 (<0.70 and <80%). Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals were computed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Measurements and Main Results: During the follow-up period, 131 participants died, 22 of whom died of cardiovascular disease, and 218 participants developed AFL. When examining the prognosis of each baseline lung function category, participants with PRISm had higher risks of all-cause death (HR, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-3.59) and cardiovascular death (HR, 4.07; 1.07-15.42) than those with normal spirometry after adjusting for confounders. Moreover, the multivariable-adjusted risk of incident AFL was greater in participants with PRISm than in those with normal spirometry (HR, 2.48; 1.83-3.36). Conclusions: PRISm was associated with higher risks of all-cause and cardiovascular death and a greater risk of the development of AFL in a Japanese community.

Association of white matter lesions and brain atrophy with the development of dementia in a community: the Hisayama Study.

AIM: To investigate the association of white matter lesions volume (WMLV) levels with dementia risk and the association between dementia risk and the combined measures of WMLV and either total brain atrophy or dementia-related gray matter atrophy in a general older population. METHODS: One thousand one hundred fifty-eight Japanese dementia-free community-residents aged ≥65 years who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging were followed for 5.0 years. WMLV were segmented using the Lesion Segmentation Toolbox. Total brain volume (TBV) and regional gray matter volume were estimated by voxel-based morphometry. The WMLV-to-intracranial brain volume ratio (WMLV/ICV) was calculated, and its association with dementia risk was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Total brain atrophy, defined as the TBV-to-ICV ratio (TBV/ICV), and dementia-related regional brain atrophy defined based on our previous report were calculated. The association between dementia risk and the combined measures of WMLV/ICV and either total brain atrophy or the number of atrophied regions was also tested. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 113 participants developed dementia. The risks of dementia increased significantly with higher WMLV/ICV levels. In addition, dementia risk increased additively both in participants with higher WMLV/ICV levels and lower TBV/ICV levels and in those with higher WMLV/ICV levels and a higher number of dementia-related brain regional atrophy. CONCLUSION: The risk of dementia increased significantly with higher WMLV/ICV levels. An additive increment in dementia risk was observed with higher WMLV/ICV levels and lower TBV/ICV levels or a higher number of dementia-related brain regional atrophy, suggesting the importance of prevention or control of cardiovascular risk factors.

Gender and age influence the association between gait speed and mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling Japanese older adults: from the Japan Prospective Studies Collaboration for Ageing and Dementia (JPSC-AD).

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that decreased gait speed is associated with impaired cognitive function. However, whether this association is equivalent across ages or genders in the older population remains unclear. Thus, we examined the association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and gait speed emphasising the influence of age and gender. METHODS: Overall, 8233 Japanese participants aged ≥65 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study between 2016 and 2018. After stratification by gender and age group, the participants' gait speeds were divided into quintiles, and the difference in MCI prevalence at each gait speed quintile was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the odds of MCI for each quintile and to assess the influence of age and gender. RESULTS: Males had a consistently higher prevalence of MCI than females. The odds of MCI were increased as gait speed decreased. Logistic regression analyses revealed that in the multivariable-adjusted model 2, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval; CI) for MCI were 2.02 (1.47-2.76) for females and 1.75 (1.29-2.38) for males in the slowest gait speed quintiles compared to the fastest quintile. In the stratified analyses, only males showed an age-dependent increase in the associations between gait speed and MCI, while females exhibited comparable associations across age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced gait speed was associated with increased odds of MCI, and this association may vary according to gender and age. Therefore, gait speed could serve as a valuable screening tool for MCI, with gender- and age-dependent clinical implications.

Multiple-region grey matter atrophy as a predictor for the development of dementia in a community: the Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of regional grey matter atrophy with dementia risk in a general older Japanese population. METHODS: We followed 1158 dementia-free Japanese residents aged ≥65 years for 5.0 years. Regional grey matter volume (GMV) at baseline was estimated by applying voxel-based morphometry methods. The GMV-to-total brain volume ratio (GMV/TBV) was calculated, and its association with dementia risk was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. We assessed whether the predictive ability of a model based on known dementia risk factors could be improved by adding the total number of regions with grey matter atrophy among dementia-related brain regions, where the cut-off value for grey matter atrophy in each region was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 113 participants developed all-cause dementia, including 83 with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lower GMV/TBV of the medial temporal lobe, insula, hippocampus and amygdala were significantly/marginally associated with higher risk of all-cause dementia and AD (all p for trend ≤0.08). The risks of all-cause dementia and AD increased significantly with increasing total number of brain regions exhibiting grey matter atrophy (both p for trend <0.01). Adding the total number of regions with grey matter atrophy into a model consisting of known risk factors significantly improved the predictive ability for AD (Harrell's c-statistics: 0.765-0.802; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the total number of regions with grey matter atrophy among the medial temporal lobe, insula, hippocampus and amygdala is a significant predictor for developing dementia, especially AD, in the general older population.

Long-term association of vegetable and fruit intake with risk of dementia in Japanese older adults: the Hisayama study.

BACKGROUND: Several prospective Western studies have reported an inverse association of vegetable and fruit intake with dementia risk. However, there is limited epidemiologic evidence in Asians. This study investigated the association of intakes of vegetables, fruits, and their nutrients on the risk of incident dementia and its subtypes in a Japanese community. METHODS: A total of 1071 participants (452 men and 619 women) aged ≥60 years without dementia at baseline were prospectively followed up for 24 years. Intakes of vegetables, fruits, and nutrients were evaluated using a 70-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline and were categorized into quartiles separately by gender. The outcome measure was the development of dementia and its subtypes-namely, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). The risk estimates of incident dementia were computed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: During the long-term follow-up period, 464 subjects developed dementia, of whom 286 had AD and 144 had VaD. Higher vegetable intake was associated gradually with lower risk of developing dementia and AD (both P-trend < 0.05), but not VaD, after adjusting for confounders. Subjects allocated the highest quartile of vegetable intake had 27 and 31% lower risk of dementia and AD, respectively, than those with the lowest quartile. The risk of dementia decreased significantly with higher intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, and potassium (all P-trend < 0.05). Subjects with higher total dietary fiber intake tended to be at decreased risk for total dementia (P-trend = 0.07). Meanwhile, there were no significant associations between fruit intake and the risk of dementia and its subtypes. CONCLUSION: Higher intakes of vegetables and their constituent nutrients were associated with a lower risk of dementia in Japanese older adults. A diet rich in vegetables may be beneficial in reducing the dementia risk in Asians.

High Serum Folate Concentrations Are Associated with Decreased Risk of Mortality among Japanese Adults.

BACKGROUND: Folate and vitamin B-12 are essential nutrients for normal cell growth and replication, but the association of serum folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations with mortality risk remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the associations of serum folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations with mortality risk and test whether the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism modifies these associations. METHODS: A total of 3050 Japanese community residents aged ≥40 y were prospectively followed-up for mortality between 2002 and 2012. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs of mortality. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 10.2 y, 336 participants died. Higher serum folate concentrations were associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality [multivariable-adjusted HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.96 for the second tertile (8.8-12.2 nmol/L; median 10.4 nmol/L) and HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.80 for the third tertile (≥12.5 nmol/L; median 15.6 nmol/L) serum folate concentrations compared with the first tertile (≤8.6 nmol/L; median 7.0 nmol/L)]. This association remained significant in all sensitivity analyses. Spline analyses showed a steady decline in all-cause mortality risk with increasing serum folate concentrations up to 20-25 nmol/L. This association persisted regardless of the MTHFR C677T genotypes. For serum vitamin B-12, the multivariable-adjusted HR of 1.32 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.79) of all-cause mortality was marginally significantly greater in the first tertile compared with the second tertile. This association was attenuated and nonsignificant after the exclusion of participants with a history of cardiovascular disease or cancer, or participants aged ≥85 y at baseline, or deaths in the first 3 y of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Serum folate concentrations were inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in Japanese adults. Serum vitamin B-12 concentrations were not consistently associated with all-cause mortality risk after accounting for reverse-causation bias.

Prevalence and Mortality of Sarcopenia in a Community-dwelling Older Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sarcopenia defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria in Asian communities has not been fully addressed. Moreover, few studies have addressed the influence of sarcopenia on mortality. METHODS: A total of 1,371 and 1,597 residents aged 65 years or older participated in health surveys in 2012 and 2017. Sarcopenia was determined using the AWGS definition. Factors associated with the presence of sarcopenia were assessed using a logistic regression model in participants in the 2012 survey. Subjects in the 2012 survey were followed-up prospectively for a median of 4.3 years. Mortality risk for subjects with sarcopenia was examined using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of sarcopenia was 7.4% and 6.6% in participants at the 2012 and 2017 surveys, respectively; there was no significant difference between surveys (P = 0.44). The prevalence of sarcopenia increased significantly with age in both sexes (both P for trend <0.001). Subjects with sarcopenia were more likely to exercise less regularly, to intake less total energy, and to exhibit a disability in activity of daily living than those without. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 2.20 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.85) in subjects with sarcopenia, compared to those without. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 7% of older subjects had sarcopenia in a community-dwelling older Japanese population. Moreover, subjects with sarcopenia had an increased mortality risk. Our findings suggest that a public health strategy for sarcopenia is needed to extend healthy life expectancy.

Serum Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 as a Biomarker for Incident Dementia: The Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), a soluble type of an innate immune receptor expressed on the microglia, and the risk of dementia. METHODS: A total of 1,349 Japanese community residents aged 60 and older without dementia were followed prospectively for 10 years (2002-2012). Serum sTREM2 levels were quantified by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and divided into quartiles. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of serum sTREM2 levels on the risk of dementia. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 300 subjects developed all-cause dementia; 193 had Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 85 had vascular dementia (VaD). The age- and sex-adjusted incidences of all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD elevated significantly with higher serum sTREM2 levels (all p for trend < 0.012). These associations were not altered after adjustment for confounding factors, including high-sensitive C-reactive protein. Subjects with the highest quartile of serum sTREM2 levels had significantly higher multivariable-adjusted risks of developing all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD than those with the lowest quartile (HR = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39-2.97, p < 0.001 for all-cause dementia; HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.02-2.55, p = 0.04 for AD; HR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.35-6.02, p = 0.006 for VaD). No significant heterogeneity in the association of serum sTREM2 levels with the development of dementia was observed among the other risk factor subgroups (all p for heterogeneity > 0.11). INTERPRETATION: The present findings suggest a significant association between increased serum sTREM2 levels and the risk of developing all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD in the general elderly Japanese population. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:47-58.

Serum homocysteine and risk of dementia in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between serum total homocysteine levels (tHcy) and dementia risk. METHODS: A total of 1588 Japanese adults aged ≥60 years without dementia were prospectively followed from 2002 to 2012. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to estimate the HRs of tHcy levels on the risk of dementia. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 372 subjects developed all-cause dementia; 247 had Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 98 had vascular dementia (VaD). Compared with the lowest tHcy quintile (≤6.4 µmol/L), the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) of the highest quintile (≥11.5 µmol/L) were 2.28 (1.51-3.43) for all-cause dementia, 1.96 (1.19-3.24) for AD and 2.51 (1.14-5.51) for VaD. In restricted cubic splines, the risk of all-cause dementia steadily increased between approximately 8-15 µmol/L and plateaued thereafter, with a similar non-linear shape observed for AD and VaD (all p for non-linearity ≤0.02). In stratified analyses by the most recognised genetic polymorphism affecting tHcy concentrations (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T), the positive association of tHcy with all-cause dementia persisted in both non-carriers and carriers of the risk allele, and even tended to be stronger in the former (p for heterogeneity=0.07). CONCLUSION: High serum tHcy levels are associated with an elevated risk of dementia, AD and VaD in a non-linear manner, such that an exposure-response association is present only within a relatively high range of tHcy levels. Non-genetic factors affecting serum tHcy concentrations may play important roles in tHcy-dementia associations irrespective of the genetic susceptibility for raised tHcy.

Decline in Handgrip Strength From Midlife to Late-Life is Associated With Dementia in a Japanese Community: The Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND: The association between decline in handgrip strength from midlife to late life and dementia is unclear. METHODS: Japanese community-dwellers without dementia aged 60 to 79 years (ie, individuals in late life; mean age, 68 years) were followed for 24 years (1988-2012) (n = 1,055); 835 of them had participated in a health examination in 1973-1974 (mean age, 53 years), and these earlier data were used for the midlife analysis. Using a Cox proportional hazards model, we estimated the risk conferred by a decline in handgrip strength over a 15-year period (1973-74 to 1988) from midlife to late life on the development of total dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) over the late-life follow-up period from 1988 to 2012. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 368 subjects experienced total dementia. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of total dementia increased significantly with greater decline in handgrip strength (increased or unchanged handgrip strength [≥+0%] 25.1, mildly decreased [-14 to -1%] 28.4, and severely decreased [≤-15%] 38.9 per 1,000 person-years). A greater decline in handgrip strength was significantly associated with higher risk of total dementia after adjusting for potential confounding factors; subjects with severely decreased handgrip strength had 1.51-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.99, P < 0.01) increased risk of total dementia compared to those with increased or unchanged handgrip strength. Similar significant findings were observed for AD, but not for VaD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a greater decline in handgrip strength from midlife to late life is an important indicator for late-life onset of dementia.

Association Between Serum ß-Alanine and Risk of Dementia.

We examined the association between serum concentrations of ß-alanine, a metabolite of carnosine and anserine, and the risk of dementia in a general population of elderly Japanese persons. In 2007, 1,475 residents of Hisayama, Japan, aged 60-79 years and without dementia were divided into 4 groups according to quartiles of serum ß-alanine concentrations (quartile 1, lowest; quartile 4, highest) and followed for a median of 5.3 years. During follow-up, 117 subjects developed all-cause dementia (Alzheimer in 77 cases and vascular dementia in 31). The risk of all-cause dementia decreased with increasing serum ß-alanine levels after adjustment for potential confounding factors (quartile 2, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45, 1.18); quartile 3, HR = 0.50 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.89); quartile 4, HR = 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.92); P = 0.01 for trend). A similar inverse association was observed for Alzheimer disease (quartile 2, HR = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.44, 1.38); quartile 3, HR = 0.53 (95% CI: 0.26, 1.06); quartile 4, HR = 0.53 (95% CI: 0.25, 1.10); P = 0.04 for trend) but not for vascular dementia. We found that higher serum ß-alanine levels were significantly associated with lower risks of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease. Because serum ß-alanine levels reflect intakes of carnosine/anserine, higher intakes of carnosine/anserine might be beneficial for the prevention of dementia.

Day-to-Day Blood Pressure Variability and Risk of Dementia in a General Japanese Elderly Population: The Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have reported that higher visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. However, no studies have investigated the association of day-to-day blood pressure variability assessed by home blood pressure measurement with the development of dementia. METHODS: A total of 1674 community-dwelling Japanese elderly without dementia, ≥60 years of age, were followed up for 5 years (2007-2012). Home blood pressure was measured 3 times every morning for a median of 28 days. Day-to-day systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure variabilities, calculated as coefficients of variation (CoV) of home SBP and diastolic blood pressure, were categorized into quartiles. The hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals of the CoV levels of home blood pressure on the development of all-cause dementia, vascular dementia (VaD), and Alzheimer disease (AD) were computed with a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 194 subjects developed all-cause dementia; of these, 47 had VaD and 134 had AD. The age- and sex-adjusted incidences of all-cause dementia, VaD, and AD increased significantly with increasing CoV levels of home SBP (all P for trend <0.05). These associations remained unchanged after adjustment for potential confounding factors, including home SBP. Compared with subjects in the first quartile of CoV levels of home SBP, the risks of the development of all-cause dementia, VaD, and AD were significantly higher in those in the fourth quartile (hazard ratio=2.27, 95% confidence interval=1.45-3.55, P<0.001 for all-cause dementia; hazard ratio=2.79, 95% confidence interval=1.04-7.51, P=0.03 for VaD; hazard ratio=2.22, 95% confidence interval=1.31-3.75, P<0.001 for AD). Similar associations were observed for CoV levels of home diastolic blood pressure. Meanwhile, home SBP levels were significantly associated with the risk of VaD but not with the risks of all-cause dementia and AD. There was no interaction between home SBP levels and CoV levels of home SBP on the risk of each subtype of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that increased day-to-day blood pressure variability is, independently of average home blood pressure, a significant risk factor for the development of all-cause dementia, VaD, and AD in the general elderly Japanese population.

Patterns and Levels of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in a General Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe the patterns and levels of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) in a general Japanese population. METHODS: A total of 1,740 community-dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥40 years participated in this study. Sedentary time and PA were assessed for 7 consecutive days using a tri-axial accelerometer. Daily patterns and levels of sedentary time and PA were calculated by sex, age group (40-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years), and body mass index (BMI; <25 and ≥25 kg/m2). RESULTS: Participants spent half of their waking time being sedentary, 32.7% of which was accumulated in prolonged bouts ≥30 minutes, versus only 54.4 minutes/day (7% of waking time) as moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (11.8 minutes/day in bouts ≥10 minutes). In addition to total sedentary time, men had longer prolonged sedentary bouts and fewer breaks per sedentary hour than women. Similar trends were observed in participants aged ≥75 years and those with a higher BMI (≥25 kg/m2) compared to those with a younger age and lower BMI. Moreover, participants aged ≥75 years and those with a higher BMI accumulated fewer MVPA minutes in bouts ≥10 minutes. Only 34.8% of the population met the recommended level of ≥150 minutes/week MVPA in bouts ≥10 minutes. CONCLUSION: Japanese adults accumulated a large proportion of total sedentary time in prolonged bouts but few minutes in sustained bouts of MVPA, and few of them met the current PA guideline.

Dietary Protein Intake and Stroke Risk in a General Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The influence of dietary protein intake on stroke risk is an area of interest. We investigated the association between dietary protein intake and stroke risk in Japanese, considering sources of protein. METHODS: A total of 2400 subjects aged 40 to 79 years were followed up for 19 years. Dietary protein intake was estimated using a 70-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The risk estimates for incident stroke and its subtypes were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 254 participants experienced stroke events; of these, 172 had ischemic stroke, and 58 had intracerebral hemorrhage. Higher total protein intake was significantly associated with lower risks of stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (both P for trend <0.05). With regard to sources of protein, the risks of total stroke and ischemic stroke significantly decreased by 40% (95% confidence interval, 12%-59%) and 40% (5%-62%), respectively, in subjects with the highest quartile of vegetable protein intake compared with those with the lowest one. In contrast, subjects with the highest quartile of animal protein intake had a 53% (4%-77%) lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Vegetable protein intake was positively correlated with intakes of soybean products, vegetable, and algae, whereas animal protein intake was positively correlated with intakes of fish, meat, eggs, and milk/dairy products. Both types of protein intakes were negatively correlated with intakes of rice and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that higher dietary protein intake is associated with a reduced risk of stroke in the general Japanese population.

Serum Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2 Is a Novel Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in the Community: The Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVE: Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2), a proinflammatory mediator, has been reported to accelerate the development of insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis in mice. However, no cohort studies have examined the relationship between serum ANGPTL2 levels and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a general population. APPROACH AND RESULTS: A total of 3005 community-dwelling Japanese aged ≥40 years without a history of CVD were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of serum ANGPTL2 concentrations (Q1, lowest and Q4, highest) and followed up for 10 years. The hazards ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for the development of CVD (coronary heart disease or stroke) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow-up, 219 first-ever CVD events were observed. The risk of CVD increased significantly with elevating ANGPTL2 levels after adjustment for age, sex, serum total cholesterol, use of lipid-lowering agents, ECG abnormalities, smoking habits, alcohol intake, and regular exercise (hazards ratios [95% confidence interval], Q1, 1.00 [reference]; Q2, 1.27 [0.80-2.04]; Q3, 1.48 [0.95-2.32]; and Q4, 1.85 [1.20-2.85]; P=0.003 for trend). After additional adjustment for metabolic syndrome components and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels as an inflammatory marker, the association was attenuated but remained significant (hazards ratios [95% confidence interval], Q1, 1.00 [reference]; Q2, 1.21 [0.76-1.94]; Q3, 1.38 [0.87-2.17]; and Q4, 1.66 [1.05-2.60]; P=0.02 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that elevated serum ANGPTL2 levels are a novel risk factor for the development of CVD in the general population. This association is partially mediated by metabolic disorders and inflammation.

Perceived inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood are associated with greater risk of sleep disturbance in adulthood: the Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality are major health problems worldwide. One potential risk factor for the development and maintenance of sleep disturbance is the parenting style experienced during childhood. However, its role in sleep disturbance in adulthood has not yet been estimated. This Japanese population study was done to clarify the relation between the parenting styles "care" and "overprotection" during childhood and sleep disturbance in adulthood. METHODS: A total of 702 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged ≥ 40 years were assessed in 2011 for their perceptions of the parenting style of their parents by use of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and for sleep disturbance by use of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The odds ratio (OR) for sleep disturbance (a global PSQI score > 5) was calculated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of sleep disturbance was 29 %. After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and physical factors in a comparison with the optimal parenting styles (high care and low overprotection), the ORs for sleep disturbance by men were significantly higher for low paternal care, by 2.49 times (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-5.09), and for high overprotection, by 2.40 times (95 % CI: 1.19-4.85), while the ORs were not significant for low maternal care and high overprotection. For women the only significant factor was high maternal overprotection, by 1.62 times (95 % CI: 1.05-2.52), while the ORs were not significant for low maternal care, low paternal care and high paternal overprotection. The association remained significant for high paternal overprotection for men after additionally controlling for depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that parenting style, especially inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood, is related to sleep disturbance in adulthood and that the association is much more significant for parents of the same sex as the child.