A Novel Exercise for Enhancing Visuospatial Ability in Older Adults with Frailty: Development, Feasibility, and Effectiveness.

We aimed to develop a novel exercise to improve visuospatial ability and evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness in older adults with frailty. A non-randomized preliminary trial was conducted between June 2014 and March 2015. We recruited 35 adults with frailty (24 women), aged 66-92 years.

Longitudinal association between habitual walking and fall occurrences among community-dwelling older adults: analyzing the different risks of falling.

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the association between habitual walking and multiple or injurious falls (falls) among community-dwelling older adults, by considering the relative risk of falling. A cohort of Japanese community-dwelling older adults (n=535) aged 60-91 years (73.1±6.

Association between habitual light-intensity physical activity and lower-extremity performance: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Aim: Habitual moderate vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) positively affects lower-extremity performance. It is unclear whether habitual light-intensity physical activity (LPA), such as leisurely walking, has similar effects on lower-extremity performance. The aim of the present study was to identify the associations between habitual LPA and lower-extremity performance in older adults.

[Evaluation of the association between cognitive impairment and the vitamin D levels among community-dwelling Japanese pre-frail elderly individuals].

Aim: Cognitive impairment is the second leading cause of long-term care, and the number of cognitively impaired elderly individuals is increasing. Cognitive impairment has been reported to be associated with a low vitamin D level. However, many elderly individuals are deficient in vitamin D due to undernutrition and a house-bound status.

Physical performance measures as a useful indicator of multiple geriatric syndromes in women aged 75 years and older.

Aim: To identify whether individual physical performance measures or a combination of measures is a better indicator of multiple geriatric syndromes (MGS) defined as the concomitant presence of more than one geriatric syndrome in an individual.

Methods: We carried out cross-sectional analyses on data from 340 community-dwelling women aged 75 years and older (mean 80.0 years).

Is a composite score of physical performance measures more useful than usual gait speed alone in assessing functional status?

Overall physical performance can be represented by a composite score that is derived from upper and lower extremity performance measures. We aimed to identify whether composite scores of performance measures, particularly the lower extremity performance (LEP) score, upper extremity performance (UEP) score, and an overall score, are more accurate than usual gait speed (UGS) for assessing a wide range of functional status. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on data from 701 community-dwelling older women (mean age 74.

Assessment of vulnerable older adults' physical function according to the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) system and Fried's criteria for frailty syndrome.

This study aimed to evaluate the physical frailty status of vulnerable older adults as classified in the Japanese LTCI system and to compare this with Fried's definition. A total of 444 older adults were classified based on the LTCI system as independent, vulnerable, or dependent, and 400 of these participants also fit Fried's criteria for not frail, pre-frail or frail. We evaluated their physical function with a 12 item physical function test.

Comparison of a combination of upper extremity performance measures and usual gait speed alone for discriminating upper extremity functional limitation and disability in older women.

Although usual gait speed (UGS) is considered an indicator of overall well-being, it is unclear whether upper extremity performance (UEP) measures provide a similar, additive contribution to functional status. We aimed to identify whether combining UEP measures can more accurately discriminate upper extremity functional limitation (UE limitation) and disability compared to UGS. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on data from 322 community-dwelling older women, aged 65-96 years.

[Intervention effects of inclusive support in an "exercise and a nutritional community-based prevention program" for pre-frail elderly individuals].

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine intervention effects of a community-based prevention program for pre-frail elderly individuals by comparing an intervention group (exercise with nutritional care) with a control group (exercise without nutritional care).

Methods: The study was conducted in Y town and S city in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan. The subjects comprised 161 pre-frail elderly individuals in the community-based prevention program, who were divided into two groups, the intervention group (N = 81, Y town, mean age : 76.

Exploring effective items of physical function in slow walking speed and self-reported mobility limitation in community-dwelling older adults.

Aim: To examine gender differences in regards to the disagreement between walking speed and self-reported mobility limitations, and, furthermore, to explore the items that affect each physical function task by comparing slow walking speed and self-reported mobility limitation in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 1381 community-dwelling men and women aged 65-84 years who were classified into four categories according to a combination of mobility status measured by a slow walking speed (usual gait speed < 1.0 m/s) and self-reported mobility limitation (difficulty walking 1 km).

Alternative items for identifying hierarchical levels of physical disability by using physical performance tests in women aged 75 years and older.

Aim: To identify individuals at hierarchical levels of physical disability by using physical performance tests and to determine threshold values for the discriminating of levels of physical disability in women aged 75 years or older.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 306 community-dwelling women aged 75 years or order (range, 75-99 years). Physical disability was categorized into no disability, mobility disability and activities of daily living (ADL) disability, by evaluating selected ADL and mobility-related functional tasks.

Validation of lower extremity performance tests for determining the mobility limitation levels in community-dwelling older women.

Background And Aims: Assessment of mobility status among community-dwelling older people is important for preventing further deterioration of mobility and identifying changes in mobility as early as possible. We attempted to identify the optimal cut-off values for eight lower extremity performance (LEP) tests in community-dwelling older women with mobility limitation (ML) levels.

Methods: The ML levels of 433 community-dwelling older women, mean age 73.

[A functional fitness test battery for pre-frail older adults (so-called "specified elderly individuals")].

Background: In Japan, an exercise program for pre-frail older adults (so-called "specified elderly individuals") (SEIs) has been prescribed under the newly developed long-term care insurance system. Three functional fitness measures (grip strength, one-leg balance with eyes open, and 5-m habitual walk) are used in the system; however, it has yet to be determined if applying these measures to SEIs is appropriate.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a new test battery assessing functional fitness for SEIs, and to determine cross-validity and responsiveness of these measures.

Mobility performance tests for discriminating high risk of frailty in community-dwelling older women.

We aimed to compare and identify high and low risk of frailty in community-dwelling older women by using five mobility performance tests. The participants were 166 older women at high risk and 171 age-matched controls at low risk of frailty according to the long-term care insurance (LTCI) system (age: 65-90 years). The mobility performance tests included 5-chair sit-to-stand (STS), alternate step, timed up-and-go (TUG), timed rapid gait (TRG), and usual gait speed (UGS).

Effects of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) levels on physical fitness in community-dwelling frail women.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) levels and exercise on physical fitness in community-dwelling frail elderly in Japan. A longitudinal survey was conducted in a town (latitude 36 degrees north). Eighty women aged 65 years and over attended a 3-month exercise class.

The influence of physical activity-induced energy expenditure on the variance in body weight change among individuals during a diet intervention.

Objective: We investigated the relationship between the variability in body weight change among individuals and diet restriction or physical activity during a 14-week intervention.

Design: A prospective clinical trial with a 14-week weight reduction intervention design. In total, 90 middle aged, Japanese, obese women enrolled as subjects.

Effects of exercise frequency on functional fitness in older adult women.

This study evaluated the effects of exercise frequency on functional fitness in older women participating in a 12-week exercise program. Participants (67.8+/-4.

Dance-based aerobic exercise may improve indices of falling risk in older women.

Objective: to determine the effect of dance-based aerobic exercise on indices of falling in older women.

Design: an exercise intervention trial with participants assigned either to an exercise group or to a control group.

Setting: an exercise hall at a community centre for senior citizens.