Masseter Muscle Volume and Its Association with Sarcopenia and Muscle Determinants in Older Japanese Adults: the Bunkyo Health Study.

Aim: Sarcopenia has been with a decrease in masseter muscle (MM) thickness in high-risk older populations. However, the relationship between sarcopenia and determinants of MM volume (MMV) in the general elderly population remains unclear.

Method: In a cross-sectional study of 1,484 older adults in Tokyo, we evaluated MMV using 3D MRI scanning, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), handgrip strength, dietary intake, smoking, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism.

Web-Based Search Volume for HIV Tests and HIV-Testing Preferences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Infodemiology Study.

Background: Research has found a COVID-19 pandemic-related impact on HIV medical services, including clinic visits, testing, and antiviral therapy initiation in countries including Japan. However, the change in trend for HIV/AIDS testing during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been explored extensively in the Japanese population.

Objective: This infodemiology study examines the web-based search interest for two types of HIV tests, self-test kits and facility-based tests, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Playing basketball and volleyball during adolescence is associated with higher bone mineral density in old age: the Bunkyo Health Study.

Exercise is beneficial for increasing areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adolescence and maintaining it in old age. Moreover, high-impact sports are more effective than low-impact sports in increasing aBMD. This study aimed to determine the types of adolescent sports played in school-based sports clubs associated with aBMD in old age.

Effects of exercise habits in adolescence and older age on sarcopenia risk in older adults: the Bunkyo Health Study.

Background: Sarcopenia, defined as an age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a major risk factor for requiring long-term care. Because physical activity in adolescence and older age enhances peak muscle function in youth and prevents muscle function decline in older age, older adults with exercise habits during both periods may be at a lower risk for sarcopenia. We investigated the relationship between exercise habits in adolescence and older age and sarcopenia and its components in community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Association of Genotypes and Alcohol Intake with Dietary Patterns: The Bunkyo Health Study.

Dietary habits are associated with various diseases and assessed by dietary patterns (DPs). Since the genotype is correlated with alcohol and several food preferences, this genotype is probably associated with DPs. In this cross-sectional study of 1612 elderly adults, we investigated the effects of the genotype on DPs and the mediating role of alcohol intake.

Associations of Exercise Habits in Adolescence and Old Age with Risk of Osteoporosis in Older Adults: The Bunkyo Health Study.

We investigated effects of exercise habits (EHs) in adolescence and old age on osteoporosis prevalence and hip joint and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD). Body composition and BMD in 1596 people aged 65-84 years living in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We divided participants into four groups by a combination of EHs in adolescence and old age: none in either period (None-None), only in adolescence (Active-None), only in old age (None-Active), and in both periods (Active-Active).