Heterogeneous associations between community social capital and loneliness: a cross-sectional study in 2019.

Background: Loneliness is prevalent among older adults and is linked to physical and mental health problems. Community social capital has been suggested to mitigate its impact, but its heterogeneity across socioeconomic groups was not exploredMethod:We analysed cross-sectional data from the 2019 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) with 24,206 participants aged 65 years or older. Loneliness was measured using UCLA's 3-item scale, and community social capital was assessed by civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity.

Heterogeneous effects on body mass index in the "checkup championship": A behavioral science-based health promotion program by health interest level.

Objective: Behavioral science principles, including approaches such as gamification, commitment strategies, and nudges, are widely used in health promotion programs to prevent non-communicable diseases. These approaches are expected to influence behavior change regardless of health interest; however, their effectiveness remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of a behavioral science-based health promotion program on body mass index (BMI) reduction across different levels of health interest.

Heterogeneous associations of retirement with health and behaviors: A longitudinal study in 35 countries.

Many developed countries are raising their state pension age, thereby delaying retirement. However, existing evidence on the impact of retirement on health yields inconsistent results. This study aims to explore heterogeneous associations of retirement with health and behaviors using harmonized datasets of the Health and Retirement Study and its sister surveys in 35 countries.

Gender, socioeconomic, and built environment differences in the association of participation in an incentivized walking program with physical and social activity: A prospective cohort study among older adults in Japan.

Objectives: Physical inactivity and social isolation are key obstacles to achieving healthy and active aging. This study evaluated the association between participation in a citywide economic incentive Yokohama Walking Point (YWP) program with walking time, the risk of being homebound, and social isolation. We also explored the heterogeneities in the association across gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and built environment (BE).

Increased vegetable consumption in Japan using an incentivized health communication campaign with a quiz.

Dietary habits, particularly vegetable consumption, play a crucial role in preventing noncommunicable diseases. However, despite international guidelines advocating daily vegetable intake, adherence remains low across many populations. As a result, more focused efforts to boost vegetable consumption at the population level are essential.

Public libraries and functional disability: A cohort study of Japanese older adults.

This study examined the association between the presence of public libraries and functional disability risk among community-dwelling older adults. We studied 73,138 participants aged 65 years or older in 19 Japanese municipalities using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. They were physically and cognitively independent at baseline and followed up between 2013 and 2021 (mean follow-up: 7.

Pneumococcal vaccination, but not influenza vaccination, is negatively associated with incident dementia among Japanese older adults: The JAGES 2013-2022 prospective cohort study.

Background: It is unclear whether inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV) or pneumococcal vaccination are associated with the risk of dementia; however, both types of vaccination are recommended for older adults. Studies have shown that the IIV is negatively associated with incident dementia; however, the uptake of pneumococcal vaccinations has not been considered. We investigated the independent associations of IIV and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) with incident dementia in older adults.

Estimating the joint association of adverse childhood experiences and asthma with subsequent depressive symptoms: a marginal structural modelling approach.

Background: The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression risk has been well documented. However, it remains unclear whether stress-related chronic conditions associated with ACEs, such as asthma, increase the long-term mental health burden of ACEs.

Objective: To investigate the joint association of ACEs and asthma with subsequent depressive symptoms among US adults.

Retirement and cardiovascular disease: a longitudinal study in 35 countries.

Background: Many countries have been increasing their state pension age (SPA); nonetheless, there is little consensus on whether retirement affects the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined the associations of retirement with CVD and risk factors.

Methods: We used harmonized longitudinal datasets from the Health and Retirement Study and its sister surveys in 35 countries.

Associations of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations with burdens of older family caregivers: The Japan Gerontological Evaluation study (JAGES) cross-sectional study.

Background: Influenza and pneumonia tend to be severe in older adults; thus, vaccination is necessary to prevent these illnesses. Vaccination is especially important for older family caregivers (OFCs) not only to prevent them from becoming ill, but also to prevent secondary infections in the family care receivers (FCRs), who are mostly frail older adults and have a higher risk of severe illness. Thus, we investigated whether caregiving burdens were associated with the vaccinations among older adults.

Association of functional competencies with vaccination among older adults: a JAGES cross-sectional study.

It is unknown whether higher functions in sublevels of competence other than instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are associated with vaccinations. This study examined whether higher functions, including intellectual activity (IA) and social role (SR), were associated with vaccinations among 26,177 older adults. Older adults with incapable activities in IA and SR had increased risks for non-receipt of influenza vaccinations (IA: for one incapable task/activity: incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.

The association between elder abuse and refrainment from daily activities during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in Japan: A cross-sectional study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

Objectives: Elder abuse is a public health issue that is thought to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and behavioral restrictions. This study examines the association between elder abuse and refrainment from daily activities during the pandemic.

Methods: We used data from a self-administered mail survey conducted by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) from November 2020 to February 2021 in 11 municipalities.

Characteristics associated with optimistic or pessimistic perception about the probability of contracting COVID-19: A cross-sectional study of Japanese older adults.

Introduction: Excessive optimistic perception about the probability of acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may hinder people from exercising preventive measures, whereas excessive pessimistic perception can induce psychological problems. Not much focus has been paid to this topic, and prior studies are only online surveys. We determined the characteristics of older adults with optimistic and pessimistic perceptions of the probability of contracting COVID-19.

Nutrient and Food Group Prediction as Orchestrated by an Automated Image Recognition System in a Smartphone App (CALO mama): Validation Study.

Background: A smartphone image recognition app is expected to be a novel tool for measuring nutrients and food intake, but its performance has not been well evaluated.

Objective: We assessed the accuracy of the performance of an image recognition app called CALO mama in terms of the nutrient and food group contents automatically estimated by the app.

Methods: We prepared 120 meal samples for which the nutrients and food groups were calculated.