Effect of exercise, aging and functional capacity on acute secretory immunoglobulin A response in elderly people over 75 years of age.

Background: Age-associated decline in immune function and regulation, referred to as immunosenescence, brings about an increased incidence of infectious diseases in the aged; however, there are few data on the effect of aging and exercise on mucosal immune function in elderly people. Moreover, there is no evidence on whether the change in functional capacity affects mucosal immunity in elderly people. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of exercise, aging and functional capacity on mucosal immune function in elderly people over 75 years of age.

[Relationships between volunteerism and social-physical health and QOL with community-dwelling elderly participating in a long-term care prevention programme].

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of volunteerism as part of a long-term care prevention program on social and physical health indicators and QOL, as compared with non-participation among elderly people.

Methods: The baseline survey was conducted in 2003 among elderly people (age, 70-84 years) living in a rural community in Miyagi Prefecture. We recruited elderly volunteer leaders for long-term care prevention from among the 1,503 elderly people participating in the baseline survey.

[Production of a fall prevention exercise programme considering suggestions from community-dwelling elderly].

Objectives: A fall prevention exercise programme, which elderly persons could undertake in their home alone to maintain and improve leg muscle strength, body balance ability and flexibility, was developed. The programme consisted of number of movements from which the best were selected on the basis of participant evaluation. The purpose of this report is to document the actual contents and an examination of the effects of this exercise programme in elderly people.