Associations Between Cognitive Function and Muscle Quality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether muscle quality is related to cognitive function in older adults living in the community. METHODS: The participants were 40 community-dwelling older adults without a diagnosis of dementia (mean age, 78.85 ± 6.40 years; 31 women). The dependent variable was the score on the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) index of the Japanese version of the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination Five (range: 0-6; higher scores indicate MCI or possible dementia). RESULTS: Multiple regression with Bayesian statistics was performed for analysis of muscle quality, as indicated by echo intensity (EI), with skeletal muscle mass index, gait speed, physical activity level, age, and sex as covariates. EI was significantly associated with the MCI index (expected a posterior = 0.04 [95% Bayesian confidence interval: 0.01, 0.07], t = 2.47, ß = 0.41, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that EI may be related to the cognitive function of older adults living in the community. Future studies should examine whether focusing on EI can help prevent cognitive decline among older adults..

Appetite and family and friends network among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the stronger correlate of appetite-family or friend networks-in community-dwelling older adults, given that undernutrition can impair physical function, increase mortality, and be influenced by social networks. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, and Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, between August 2019 and March 2023. The analysis included 119 participants (women: 79%, mean age: 76.5 ± 5.6 y). A multiple regression analysis was performed, using the scores from the Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ-J) as the dependent variable and family network and friend network as the independent variables. The analysis included social participation, living alone status, sex, age, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, walking speed, and the Japanese version of the 15 Geriatric Depression Scale score as covariates to examine their relationship with appetite. RESULTS: The mean value of the SNAQ-J score of the participants was 15.4 ± 1.2. Seven participants (6%) had a loss of appetite. Family network was significantly associated with appetite (B = 0.121, ß = 0.266, P <0.05; 95% condidence interval [CI], 0.030-0.212). In the single regression analysis, the friend network was significantly associated with the total score of the SNAQ-J (B = 0.115, P <0.001; 95% CI, 0.052-0.177); however, this association was not observed in the multiple regression analysis (B = 0.002, ß = 0.006, P = 0.954; 95% CI, -0.074-0.078). CONCLUSION: Appetite was associated with family networks. Among social networks, focusing on family networks may help prevent the loss of appetite in older adults in Japan.

Relationship between Phase Angle and Physical Activity Intensity among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between phase angle (PhA) and physical activity intensity in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. The intensity and time of physical activity for predicting high PhA were also examined. This study involved 67 community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 78.3 ± 5.5; female: 83.6%). We measured the physical activity and body composition of the participants. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer, and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) hours per day were calculated from the results. Body composition was measured using Inbody S10, and the PhA was calculated from the measurements of the right side of the body. Bayesian statistical modeling revealed an association between PhA and MVPA (ß = 0.256; p = 0.022; 95% Bayesian confidence interval [CI] = 0.001, 0.012), but not LPA (ß = -0.113; p = 0.341; 95% Bayesian CI = -0.002, 0.001), even after adjustment for confounders. The cutoff value of MVPA predicting high PhA, calculated by the receiver operator characteristic curve, was 19.7 min/d (sensitivity = 0.906; specificity = 0.429). These results can be used to develop strategies to increase PhA in older adults and suggest that MVPA is important in this population.

Effect of a multimodal non-pharmacological intervention on older people with dementia: a single-case experimental design study.

BACKGROUND: Older people with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes (NHs) tend to have decreased cognitive function, which may cause behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) and hinder activities of daily living (ADLs). Therefore, taking measures against the cognitive decline of PWD in NH and, in turn, the decline of BPSDs and ADLs is crucial. The purpose of this study was to test whether a multimodal non-pharmacological intervention (MNPI) is effective in maintaining and improving global cognitive function, BPSDs, and ADLs in PWD in NHs. METHODS: An intervention study using a single-case AB design was conducted in three subjects in NHs. During the non-intervention phase, participants underwent follow-up assessments, and during the intervention phase, they participated in an MNPI. The ABC Dementia Scale (which concurrently assesses ADLs ["A"], BPSDs ["B"], and cognitive function ["C"]) was used for the assessment. RESULTS: One of the three patients showed improvement in dementia severity, global cognitive function, ADLs, and BPSDs. However, the other two participants showed no improvement following the MNPI, although the possibility of a maintenance effect remained. CONCLUSION: Although there is room for improvement of the MNPI, it may be effective in maintaining and improving cognitive function, ADLs, and BPSD, in PWD in NHs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.umin.ac.jp/ , No. UMIN000045858, registration date: November 1, 2021).

Reliability and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Patient Empowerment Scale.

Empowerment scales for inpatients have been developed worldwide, but their validity and reliability have not been adequately tested and applied to the health promotion and care among older adults during hospitalization. In this study, the Patient Empowerment Scale developed by Faulkner was translated into Japanese, and Japanese patients were surveyed to test its clinical applicability. To test its applicability, 151 patients in rehabilitation wards were surveyed in four municipalities. After considering ceiling/floor effects and validating the structure, the Patient Empowerment Scale­Japanese comprised 37 items and six factors: subject−staff interaction, environmental adjustment through collaboration, necessary information gathering and problem awareness, proactive behavioral practices, self-disclosure, and self-management of activities. Criteria-related validity assessment confirmed the scale's correlation with the Health Locus of Control Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Regarding internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 for all 37 items. The Cronbach's alphas for the six factors were 0.93, 0.91, 0.92, 0.92, 0.91, and 0.75, respectively. In our test/re-test of reliability, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between the first and second total scores was ρ = 0.96, p < 0.01. These results confirm the scale's validity and reliability, and its applicability to older hospitalized patients.

Relationship between Empowerment and Functioning and Disability in Older Japanese Patients: A Covariance Structure Analysis.

In the present study, 151 Japanese older adults aged over 65 years and admitted to recovery-phase rehabilitation facilities were enrolled to investigate the relationship between empowerment and contextual factors, functioning and disability, with structural equation modeling (SEM). The analysis included 151 patients aged 81.75 ± 7.15 years, including 54 males (35.76%) and 97 females (64.24%). The results of the SEM analysis showed that role presence (ß = 0.45, p < 0.01) and family structure (ß = 0.18, p = 0.02) significantly impacted empowerment. In addition, the results showed that patient empowerment positively impacted physical activity (ß = 0.25, p < 0.01) and psychosomatic functions and abilities (ß = 0.36, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the goodness-of-fit of the model hypothesized in this study was shown to have explanatory power. This study showed that empowerment contributed to the prevention of physical inactivity and confinement among Japanese older patients. In other words, the study provided evidence for the importance of empowerment-based program planning in the practice of person-centered care aimed at promoting the health and discharge of older patients in Japan.

A conceptual analysis of older adults' empowerment in contemporary japanese culture.

BACKGROUND: Empowerment among older adults is a key concept for improving their health. In contrast, empowerment evolves according to cultural and historical contexts and needs to be consistently tested and constructed. The purpose of this study was to clarify the components of older adults' empowerment in contemporary Japan and to reconstruct the definition of empowerment. METHODS: A conceptual analysis was performed using Rodgers' evolutionary method. The data sources were PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi. The search keywords were "empowerment," "older adults," and "Japan/Japanese." Of the 8811 articles published between 2000 and 2019 that focused on older adults' empowerment, we selected 60 articles that met our objectives. RESULTS: Seven antecedents, six attributes, and seven consequences were identified. Older adults' empowerment in contemporary Japan was defined as "the series of processes in which disclosing oneself, not only verbally but also nonverbally (e.g., through work, roles, and collaborative activities), in connection with others, objectively perceiving one's existence and challenges, taking proactive actions based on decision-making, and utilizing one's strengths in new work and community life." CONCLUSIONS: This concept is useful in practice, education, and research on community development and providing support for older adults based on self-help and mutual aid, not only in Japan but also for the global aging society.

Premature oral pre-shaping for feeding in elderly population with risk of aspiration pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to determine the abnormal hand and mouth behavior before actual swallowing for eating in elderly people with high risk of aspiration pneumonia. Ten elderly people with a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia (EAP), 15 healthy elderly (HE) people, and 21 young adults (YA) were enrolled. The feeding time and the timing of the maximum distance between the upper and lower lips were extracted using a motion analyzer during self-feeding and assisted-feeding. The results showed that feeding time in EAP was significantly longer than that for the other groups in self- and assisted-feeding. In self-feeding, the timing of mouth-preparation in the EAP group was significantly earlier than that in the other groups; conversely, in assisted-feeding, the timing in EAP was significantly delayed. Our results indicate that abnormal preparation of mouth-shape and movement time of hand before actual swallowing in both self- and assisted-feeding may exist in elderly people with previous experience of aspiration pneumonia.