BACKGROUND: This cohort study aimed to identify the accumulation patterns of objectively measured ambulatory activity (AA) variables in the middle-aged and older Japanese women and examine the relationship of these derivative patterns with onset of metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: A total of 794 women (mean age: 56.2 years) provided objectively assessed AA data using a uniaxial accelerometer. The number of steps, time accumulated in light-intensity AA (LIAA) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity AA (MVAA) and the ratio of MVAA to total AA (LIAA + MVAA) were calculated. Latent profile analysis was used to identify participant groups based on their distinct AA patterns. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of groups with the onset of MetS after adjusting for age, sex, education, alcohol habit, smoking habit, energy intake, and the number of MetS components present at baseline. RESULTS: Four distinct groups were identified: Group A had low levels of the AA variable; group B accumulated a certain number or more steps primarily through MVAA; group C accumulated a certain number or more steps primarily through LIAA; and group D had high level of the AA variables. Over the course of the 5-year follow-up period, 61 participants (7.7%) developed MetS. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for onset of MetS in groups B, C, and D relative to group A were 0.416 (0.166-1.218), 0.451 (0.223-0.914), and 0.933 (0.365-2.382), respectively. Group C had a significantly lower odds ratio of MetS onset than group A. CONCLUSION AA patterns accumulating a certain number or more steps, regardless of the intensity of AA, may help reduce the risk of MetS compared to inactive AA patterns.
Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome/etiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Exercise ; Cohort Studies ; Accelerometry ; Risk Factors ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: The demand for aged-care services in Japan has surged due to the country's aging population. Furthermore, nationwide survey on the current state of aged-care services revealed that the primary reason for the resignation of women working in these sectors was poor interpersonal relationships. Moreover, given that women working in aged-care services work in shifts around the clock to manage the health and safety of the people in their care, they are at high risk of health-related issues including insomnia symptoms. Thus, we aim to examine the association between levels of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships (LSIR) and insomnia symptoms for women working in aged-care services in Japan, as well as the effect of work-life imbalance on the association between LSIR and insomnia symptoms. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 472 women aged 18-60 years who worked in aged-care services in Japan in 2014-2016. Insomnia symptoms were measured using the Athens Insomnia Scale, and scores of 6 or greater indicated the presence of insomnia. LSIR were assessed through self-administered questionnaires and evaluated at three levels. The association between LSIR and insomnia symptoms was evaluated using a multinominal logistic regression model. Path analysis was used to examine the potential effects of LSIR on insomnia symptoms by incorporating covariates such as work-family conflict, marital status, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to high LSIR, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of insomnia symptoms were respectively 1.36 (0.81-2.30) and 2.42 (1.11-5.23) for medium and low LSIR. The path analysis showed that low LSIR were significantly associated with having high work-to-family (W-to-F) conflict and being single. CONCLUSIONS Low LSIR were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms among women working in aged-care services in Japan. High W-to-F conflict exacerbated this relationship. Therefore, enhancing interpersonal relationships may be necessary for preventing insomnia. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of our study, causality cannot be inferred. Further longitudinal research is needed to better understand these associations.
Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Interpersonal Relations ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Personal Satisfaction ; Health Services for the Aged/statistics & numerical data*

This study was to examine the validity of the Japanese version of MemScreen (MemScreen-J), a touchscreen MCI screening test. 20 patients with MCI aged 65-90 years at the Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center were recruited as cases in December 2023. Non-cases were recruited from local residents in Toon City, Ehime Prefecture in February 2024 and 40 residents, without a medical history of MCI, aged 58-84 years were included in the present study. MemScreen-J test, a self-administered screening test in the form of a digital application, downloadable on a tablet, was administered to participants to assess their cognitive function. Defining the group at high risk of MCI based on a MemScreen-J test score of 28 or lower achieved the best Youden index in the study sample, with a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.98. MemScreen-J appeared to be a valid screening tool among persons at the prodromal stage of dementia, given reasonably high accuracy in detection of MCI. This innovative neuropsychological test could be the first step in a diagnostic approach to cognitive complaints in a community, identifying persons at the preclinical stage of dementia.
Humans ; Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis* ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Female ; Japan ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Middle Aged ; Mass Screening/methods* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Reproducibility of Results ; East Asian People

Objectives: Few studies examined the association between deterioration of masticatory ability assessed by objective marker and physical function. Therefore, we examined the association between salivary flow rate which is one of the objective and surrogate marker of masticatory ability and lower Timed Up & Go (TUG) performance which is one of major measurement of physical function among aging Japanese. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 464 Japanese aged 60e84 years old. Participants chewed tasteless and odorless gum for 5 min, calculated stimulated salivary flow rate (g/min) during all chews.The 3 m TUG was conducted, and 75th percentile value (6.8 s for men and 7.0 s for women) or higher was defined as lower TUG performance. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between stimulated salivary flow rate and lower TUG performance. Results: We found that the stimulated salivary flow rate tended to be negatively associated with the TUG time. We also observed significant negative association between stimulated salivary flow rate and lower TUG performance; the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% confidence interval, CIs) of lower TUG performance for the highest quartile of stimulated salivary flow rate compared with the lowest quartile was0.34 (0.16e0.69, P for trend ¼ 0.02). Further adjusting for BMI, the association was attenuated but remaind significant; the OR (95% CIs) in highest quartile was 0.37 (0.18e0.76, P for trend ¼ 0.04). Conclusions Higher stimulated salivary flow, which means well masticatory ability, was inversely associated with lower TUG performance in the aging Japanese population.