Introduction: We investigated the end-of-life care preferences of patients with mild dementia and compared them with the hopes of caregivers regarding end-of-life care for patients.Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among outpatients with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their family caregivers who visited the Medical Center for Dementia.Results: We analyzed 50 pairs of dementia patients and their family caregivers. Of people with dementia, 24 respondents (48.0%) preferred "antibiotics and infusions for pneumonia" at the end of life. Eleven respondents (22.0%) preferred "central parenteral nutrition". Eight respondents (16.0%) preferred "resuscitation". For each end-of-life care item, the concordance rate between patients and caregivers on "prefer" / "do not prefer" was 0%-76%. Patients and their families who discussed end-of-life care had a significantly higher concordance rate for "resuscitation" preference than those who did not.Conclusion: For patients and their families to be able to make decisions they do not regret, it is important to promote discussions about end-of-life medical care before the patient's condition becomes severe.

Vibration sensation is related to motor function. However, it is unclear which vibration frequencies are associated with motor function. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether a specific frequency of vibration sensation could explain motor functions. Thirty-two community-dwelling Japanese healthy older adults aged 70 years or older participated in the present study. Grip strength, one-leg standing time, and 10-m walking time were evaluated as indicators of motor function. Vibratory (40, 128, and 256 Hz) and tactile sensory tests were examined as sensory functions. Grip strength per body weight was significantly correlated with sex, body mass index, falls efficacy scale, vibration sensation with 40 and 128 Hz, and 10-m walking time (P < 0.05). Furthermore, one-leg standing time showed a correlation between vibration sensation (128 and 256 Hz) and fall history (P < 0.05). However, 10-m walking time was significantly correlated with only the grip strength to body weight ratio. Multiple regression analysis showed that vibration sensation with 128 Hz (β = 0.427) and sex (β = -0.335) (P < 0.05) were significant independent variables associated with grip strength to body weight ratio. Vibration sensation with 256 Hz (β = 0.465) and age (β = -0.343) (P < 0.05) were significant independent variable associated with one-leg standing time. No significant variables were identified for the 10-m walking time. Vibration sensation associated with motor function shows specific frequency characteristics in community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

BACKGROUND: Although age and regional climate are considered to have effects on the incidence ratio of heat-related illness, quantitative estimation of age or region on the effect of occurring temperature for heat stroke is limited. METHODS: By utilizing data on the number of daily heat-related ambulance transport (HAT) in each of three age groups (7-17, 18-64, 65 years old, or older) and 47 prefectures in Japan, and daily maximum temperature (DMT) or Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (DMW) of each prefecture for the summer season, the effects of age and region on heat-related illness were studied. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the significance of the effect of age and 10 regions in Japan on HAT. The population-weighted average of DMT or DMW measured at weather stations in each prefecture was used as DMT or DMW for each prefecture. DMT or DMW when HAT is one in 100,000 people (T RESULTS: HAT of each age category and prefecture was plotted nearly on the exponential function of corresponding DMT or DMW. Average R CONCLUSIONS Age and regional differences affected the incidence of HAT. Thus, it is recommended that public prevention measures for heat-related disorders take into consideration age and regional variability.
Adult ; Aged ; Ambulances ; Child ; Heat Stress Disorders/epidemiology* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Incidence ; Temperature