Increased risk of falls in older adults with hearing loss and slow gait: results from the Otassha Study.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and impaired gait both independently heighten the risk of accidental falls among older adults. However, the combined impact of these factors remains unclear. We analyzed the data of 786 community-dwelling Japanese older adults.

Artificial intelligence detection of cognitive impairment in older adults during walking.

Introduction: To detect early cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults, this study explored the viability of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted linear acceleration and angular velocity analysis during walking.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 879 participants without dementia (female, 60.6%; mean age, 73.

Validating respiratory sarcopenia diagnostic criteria by mortality based on a position paper by four professional organizations: Insights from the Otassha study.

Aim: The Japanese Society for Respiratory Care and Rehabilitation, Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, Japanese Society of Respiratory Physical Therapy, and Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition proposed the definition and diagnosis of respiratory sarcopenia using low respiratory muscle strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM; ASM/height) instead of respiratory muscle mass; however, these parameters have not been validated. This study aimed to confirm the validity of the respiratory sarcopenia definition proposed by these four professional organizations.

Methods: Participants of our cohort study in 2015 of 468 community-dwelling older people who were evaluated for sarcopenia and underwent spirometry were included in this analysis.

A Longitudinal Study of CogEvo's Prediction of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults.

The predictive abilities of computer-based screening devices for early cognitive decline (CD) in older adults have rarely been longitudinally examined. Therefore, this study examined the ability of CogEvo, a short-duration, computer-based cognitive screening device requiring little professional involvement, to predict CD among community-dwelling older adults. We determined whether 119 individuals aged ≥ 65 years living in Japanese rural communities who scored ≥ 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline developed CD by annually administering the MMSE to them.

Aging trajectories of subscales in higher-level functional capacity among community-dwelling older Japanese adults: the Otassha study.

Background: Maintaining higher-level functional capacity is important for independent living in older age. The aging trajectory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) has three patterns; however, the subscale patterns are unclear.

Aims: This study aimed to clarify the aging trajectory patterns of the TMIG-IC subscales among community-dwelling older Japanese.

Social isolation, regardless of living alone, is associated with mortality: the Otassha study.

Introduction: Social isolation has been recognized as a contributing factor to negative health outcomes. Although living alone is associated with health-related outcomes, existing findings are inconsistent. It is not the act of living alone that may predict poor health, but rather social isolation that can lead to increased mortality risk.

Association between Gut Microbiota and Muscle Strength in Japanese General Population of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project.

The association between the gut microbiota and muscle strength has garnered attention in the context of mitigating muscle decline. However, many study subjects have been individuals with existing illnesses or the elderly only. This study aims to elucidate the association between the gut microbiota and muscle strength indicators using grip strength/BMI in a large-scale study of community residents.

Association Between Ego-Resilience and Social Isolation Among Urban Older People.

Social isolation among older adults affects their physical and mental health. Ego-resilience is associated with flexible adaptation to various environments and acceptable behaviors. However, its association with social isolation among older people is unclear.

Three-year trajectories of social networks, face-to-face interactions, and non-face-to-face interactions among community-dwelling older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: Otassha study.

Objectives: To investigate the trajectories of social networks and interactions among older Japanese individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design: We used data from a cohort of community-dwelling older individuals from the Otassha study's 2019-2022 survey. Participants comprised 606 older individuals who participated in the 2019 survey and were followed up at least once.

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Prenatal exposure to environmental heavy metals and newborn telomere length: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Exposure to environmental heavy metals is associated with telomere length (TL) alteration. Available information regarding the effect of prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants on newborn TL is controversial. The aim of this study is to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of the existing epidemiological studies on the associations between prenatal metal exposure and newborn TL.

Development and validation of a rapid sarcopenia screening questionnaire: The Otassha study.

Aim: To develop a rapid and easy screening tool to detect sarcopenia.

Methods: In total, 683 community-dwelling older adults who participated in our cohort study, the "Otassha Study," in 2019, completely responded to a questionnaire, and were diagnosed with sarcopenia were included. Participants responded to a nine-item questionnaire, including candidate items for a new sarcopenia screening tool named rapid sarcopenia screening, based on items of the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire.

Does the Protective Effect of Zinc on Telomere Length Depend on the Presence of Hypertension or Type 2 Diabetes? Results from the Iwaki Health Promotion Project, Japan.

Telomeres, repeated TTAGGG sequences at chromosomal ends, shorten with age and indicate cellular lifespan. Zinc can protect against telomere damage through its anti-oxidative effect. Meanwhile, telomere shortening was correlated with metabolic diseases of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

A novel set of volatile urinary biomarkers for late-life major depressive and anxiety disorders upon the progression of frailty: a pilot study.

Mood and anxiety disorders are frequent in the elderly and increase the risk of frailty. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety in the elderly. We examined 639 participants in the community-dwelling Otassha Study (518 individuals considered healthy control, 77 with depression, anxiety, etc.

Social interaction trajectories and all-cause mortality in older adults: the Otassha study.

Introduction: This longitudinal study aimed to identify aging trajectory patterns of social interaction by sex and determine the association between these patterns and all-cause mortality.

Methods: Participants were 4,065 community-dwelling older adults (1849 men) in Japan, aged 65-89 years, who responded twice or more to a mail survey conducted between 2012 and 2020. Social interaction was examined through the frequency of face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact with non-resident family and friends.

Validation of self-reported articulatory oral motor skill against objectively measured repetitive articulatory rate in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: The Otassha Study.

Aim: To assess the validity of self-reported articulatory oral motor skill against objectively measured repetitive articulatory rate (oral diadochokinesis [oral-DDK]) as a gold standard index for articulatory oral motor skill in community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 607 Japanese adults (mean age = 73.9 years).

Serum levels of vitamin D and periodontal inflammation in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: The Otassha Study.

Aim: To evaluate the association between vitamin D status and periodontal inflammation as determined by the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) in community-dwelling older adults.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 467 Japanese adults (mean age = 73.1 years) who underwent full-mouth periodontal examinations and measurements of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D).

Impact of combinations of subscale declines in higher-level functional capacity on 8-year all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Background: The frequency of combined declines in domains of multi-faceted frailty and their impact on adverse health outcomes have not been adequately investigated. We aimed to examine the association between combined subscale declines in higher-level functional capacity and 8-year all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older Japanese individuals and the impact of multi-faceted frailty on mortality.

Materials And Methods: We administered a questionnaire to 7015 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-85 years.

Effects of body compositions on the associations between ferritin and diabetes parameters among Japanese community dwellers.

Background: Ferritin is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, the ferritin levels differ across the body compositions. Although there were studies reporting the association of ferritin and diabetes, the alteration in ferritin-diabetes association by body composition differences is rarely explained.