Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of Japan: the fastest graying society in the world.

Background: We appraised time trends of Japanese life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HALE) by gender, LE-HALE and (LE-HALE)/LE figures, along with the women-men's differences.

Methods: Using the Japanese LE and HALE values from 1990 through 2013 by gender in the article by the GBD 2013 DALYs and HALE Collaborators, we examined trends of LE and HALE, and their 5- or 3-year changes. We also probed LE-HALE and (LE-HALE)/LE values, and the women-men's differences.

Effects of walking on medical cost: A quantitative evaluation by simulation focusing on diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Recently, the prevalence of lifestyle-related disease has increased, and its associated medical costs have become considerable. Although walking is thought to prevent lifestyle-related disease, few studies have evaluated its effect on medical costs in Japanese subjects. We aimed at evaluating the effect of walking on medical costs by simulation mainly focusing on diabetes in the Japanese population.

Subacute myelo‑optic neuropathy, beriberi, and HTLV‑I‑associated myelopathy: elucidation of some neurological diseases in Japan.

Personal experience of the discovery of the cause, pathophysiology, and treatment as well as prevention of subacute myelo‑optic neuropathy, beriberi, and HTLV‑I‑associated myelopathy were described.

A cross-investigation between thiamin deficiency and the physical condition of elderly people who require nursing care.

In recent years the occurrence of thiamin deficiency diseases has increased particularly among elderly people and there has been some speculation about whether or not any particular factors exist. In this study, we focused on elderly people requiring constant care in nursing homes and we conducted an accurate condition survey of total thiamin concentration in whole blood as a means of nutritional assessment. The total number of participants was 14 males and 60 females who were residing in a nursing home; they were aged between 65 and 105 y old.

[The prevention of the fragility, and senility in the long term care insurance in Japan].

As a purpose of the long term care insurance in Japan, which was inaugurated in 2000, the achievement of "self-support" of aged people was stressed, which means, the prevention of fragility and senility. This system incorporated the new prevention service of "yo-shien" since its beginning. After 5 years experience since 2000, this preventive service was not always found to be effective.

Clinical studies on rising and re-rising neurological diseases in Japan--a personal contribution.

Throughout my research life, I experienced to discover the causes of some neurological diseases in Japan. 1) SMON (subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy). Since the early 1960s, a peculiar neurological disease became prevalent throughout Japan.

[Fall risk assessment in regular exercising elderly women].

Aim: Fall prevention is important for elderly people to maintain their functional independence. We made a longitudinal fall-risk assessment using our "Fall-predicting score" of women who are 60 years or older and who exercised regularly.

Methods: We sent "fall-predicting questionnaires" to 632 elderly women aged 60 years or older (mean 65.

["Activity scale for the elderly" as a measurement for the QOL of local elderly individuals and the assessment of the influence of age and exercise].

Aim: To study the influence of exercise on the QOL of local elderly individuals, we created an activity scale for the elderly (ASE) and investigated its reliability and validity.

Methods: We created 36-item ASE and performed factor analysis. The reliability of the ASE was tested by determining Cronbach's coefficient alpha and confirmatory factor analysis in a cohort of 5,280 people, living in the community.