Gender-specific factors affecting changes in physical function among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This longitudinal study investigated gender-specific factors associated with changes in physical function among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the impact of behavioral restrictions on older adults has been previously studied, few studies have examined individual-level longitudinal changes, especially with a focus on gender differences. A total of 242 older adults in Japan (111 men and 131 women) were followed from 2019 to 2021.

Sex- and age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, physical performance, and muscle quality among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.

Muscle volume, strength, physical performance, and quality (functional and morphological domains) decline with age; however, the specific patterns and differences among these variables in old age remain unclear. We quantitatively assessed sex- and age-related changes and differences among these variables in older adults. We hypothesized that the rates of age-related decline differ among the parameters.

Sleep regularity is associated with cognitive function and shows an inverted U-shaped relationship with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Objectives: Day-to-day sleep patterns have been hypothesized to influence cognitive health and Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unclear whether sleep irregularity is associated with cognitive function and its key marker, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), especially in individuals with subjective concerns about cognition and sleep but who are otherwise relatively healthy.

Methods: A total of 458 participants (aged 65.

Association of the Digital Trail Making Peg test with traffic crash and near-miss traffic crash experiences among Japanese community-dwelling older drivers.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the Digital Trail Making Peg test (DTMP), a dual task, and traffic crash and near-miss traffic crash experiences; the latter may be precursors to traffic crashes among older drivers.

Methods: The analysis included 505 older drivers (74.3 ± 5.

Mediating role of frailty/pre-frailty on the association between exercise participation and traffic crashes among Japanese community-dwelling older drivers.

Background: Driving is essential for maintaining independence. This study aimed to assess the mediating role of frailty status in the association between exercise participation and traffic crashes among Japanese community-dwelling older drivers.

Methods: This 2-year longitudinal study included data of 3,934 Japanese community-dwelling older drivers aged ≥ 65 years in Kasama City who did not require long-term care and participated in a postal survey in 2019 and 2021 at baseline and follow-up, respectively.

Segmental phase angle and the extracellular to intracellular water ratio are associated with functional disability in community-dwelling older adults: A follow-up study of up to 12 years.

Background & Aims: Muscle quality, including phase angle (PhA) and extracellular to intracellular water (ECW/ICW) ratio, assessed using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA) to reflect the contractile components of the muscle, muscle cell mass, and membrane condition, is associated with health outcomes. However, its association with the incidence of disabilities remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between whole-body and segmental PhA, ECW/ICW ratio, and the incidence of functional disability compared to conventional muscle mass.

Multi-task exercise increases delta power in non-rapid eye movement sleep among older female adults: A randomized crossover trial.

Delta power in electroencephalography during sleep has been used as a more quantitative approach to determine sleep depth and quality. Despite the positive effects of both exercise and cognitive activity on delta power during sleep, limited information is available regarding the effects of multi-task exercise, which combines these two activities. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of multi-task exercise on delta power during sleep.

Novel treatment strategy targeting interleukin-6 induced by cancer associated fibroblasts for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a crucial component in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of peritoneal metastasis (PM), where they contribute to tumor progression and metastasis via secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Here, we investigated the role of IL-6 in PM of gastric cancer (GC) and assessed whether anti-IL-6 receptor antibody (anti-IL-6R Ab) could inhibit PM of GC. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of IL-6 and α-smooth muscle (α-SMA) expressions in clinical samples of GC and PM, and investigated the interactions between CAFs and GC cells in vitro.

Developing a battery of physical performance tests to predict functional disability in Japanese older adults: A longitudinal study from the Kasama study.

Aim: Preventing functional disability benefits the quality of life of older adults and mitigates the economic burden of an aging society. However, the most effective physical performance tests and optimal cut points for identifying older adults at risk of functional disability remain unclear, and Japan lacks physical function-based assessment tools. We aimed to identify the physical performance tests related to functional disability and to develop a predictive test battery for it.

Cross-sectional study of the optimal types of physical exercise for cognitive function in older Japanese adults.

Aim: This study aimed to determine whether practicing coordination exercises, compared with other physical exercise types, is associated with better cognitive function in older Japanese adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from a health checkup project carried out from 2015 to 2019 among older adults living in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Data from 569 participants (mean age 74.

[A longitudinal study of the association between physical activity and apathy among community-dwelling older adults].

Aim: This study clarified the association between the amount of physical activity and apathy after one year among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Two hundred community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 74.3±5.

Senescent Fibroblasts Potentiate Peritoneal Metastasis of Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer Cells IL-8-mediated Crosstalk.

Background/aim: Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) often forms peritoneal metastases, leading to poor prognosis. However, the underlying mechanism of DGC-mediated peritoneal metastasis is poorly understood. DGC is characterized by desmoplastic stroma, in which heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), including myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and senescent CAFs (sCAFs), play a crucial role during tumor progression.

Association between comorbidities associated with diabetes and higher-level functional status in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study.

Purpose: To investigate the association between comorbidities associated with diabetes and higher-level functional status as well as the relationship between comorbidities associated with diabetes and higher-level functional status in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have better social networks.

Methods: Participants were outpatients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 65 years, excluding individuals with severe cardiovascular or respiratory illness, hyperglycaemic crisis, type 1 diabetes, or diabetic foot. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was used to evaluate the higher-level functional status.

The relationship between acceleration in sit-to-stand and falls in community-dwelling older adults: cross-sectional study.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the relationship between acceleration parameters in the sit-to-stand (STS) movement and falls, and the strength of the association between acceleration in STS movements and falls in older adults. [Participants and Methods] In total, 330 older adults were included. Four acceleration parameters were measured in STS movement: maximum acceleration (MA), velocity (MV), power (MP), and stand-up time (ST).

Relationship between Acceleration in a Sit-To-Stand Movement and Physical Function in Older Adults.

Acceleration parameters in sit-to-stand (STS) movements are useful for measuring lower-limb function in older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acceleration in STS movements and physical function and the test-retest reliability of acceleration parameters in older adults. We performed cross-sectional analyses on 244 older adults including 107 men (mean age: 77.

Evaluation of Cognitive and Physical Function Among Older Adults by Their Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Kasama Study, Japan.

Background: The amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ42) level is a biomarker that is widely used to evaluate individual cognitive dysfunction early in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as differentiate between normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular cognitive impairment.

Objective: Our cross-sectional study evaluated the association between daily exercise and physical and cognitive function and Aβ42 levels among a subsample of 325 older adults from the Kasama Study.

Methods: Participants (age: 74.

Intraperitoneal Administration of p53-armed Oncolytic Adenovirus Inhibits Peritoneal Metastasis of Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Diffuse-type gastric cancer (GC) frequently exhibits peritoneal metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. However, efforts to develop antitumor strategies for preventing the peritoneal metastasis of GC have been unsuccessful. As diffuse-type GC cells often carry a genetic alteration in the tumor suppressor p53 gene, p53 restoration may be a potent strategy for preventing peritoneal metastasis of GC.

Effects of Desert Olive Tree Pearls Containing High Hydroxytyrosol Concentrations on the Cognitive Functions of Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

The Japanese population has the world's longest life expectancy but faces the challenge of extending the healthy life expectancy without developing chronic diseases. Therefore, the effectiveness of products derived from olives used in the Mediterranean diet as a potential dietary solution has attracted attention. This study examined the effects of desert olive tree pearls (DOTPs), which contain 162 times more polyphenol hydroxytyrosol than olive oil, on the cognitive function of middle-aged and older adults using the Cognitrax test.

Energy metabolism and thermoregulation during sleep in young and old females.

Core body temperature (CBT) shows a diurnal rhythm, and the nocturnal decrease in CBT is blunted in older people. The physiological mechanisms responsible for the blunted nocturnal decrease in CBT in older people remain to be revealed. The aim of this study was to compare heat production and heat dissipation in young and old subjects during sleep, as assessed by indirect calorimetry and the distal-proximal temperature gradient (DPG) of skin temperature.

Association of 24-h movement behaviors with phase angle in community-dwelling older adults: a compositional data analysis.

Background: Phase angle (PhA) is an indicator of cellular conditions. Recent studies have suggested that PhA supports healthy aging. Identifying modifiable lifestyle factors for PhA is important.

Effects of home-based manual dexterity training on cognitive function among older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The relationship between manual dexterity and cognitive function among older adults is well known; however, few studies have focused on manual dexterity training that confirms cognitive load of training in older adults through functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and verifies the effect of training. This study examined the effects of home-based manual dexterity training on cognitive function in older adults using a digital trail-making peg test device combining two conventional assessment tools namely, the peg and trail-making tests.

Methods: For 12 weeks, 57 healthy older adults aged 65-88 years participated in a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, wherein home-based manual dexterity training was performed for approximately 20 min daily.

Novel Approach for Glycemic Management Incorporating Vibration Stimulation of Skeletal Muscle in Obesity.

Because obesity is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is important to manage the blood glucose level at an early stage. Nevertheless, people with obesity have significantly lower resistance to muscle fatigue after exercise and exercise adherence. Therefore, we developed a novel "Relaxing-Vibration Training (VT)" consisting of 25 postures using vibration stimulation of skeletal muscle and determined the feasibility of VT for glycemic management.