Search

It is well known that consumption of isoflavones reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the effectiveness of isoflavones in preventing dementia is controversial. A number of intervention studies have produced conflicting results. One possible reason is that the ability to produce equol, a metabolite of a soy isoflavone, differs greatly in individuals. In addition to existing data, we sought to confirm whether an apparent beneficial effect in cognitive function is observed after soy consumption in equol producers compared with non-producers.The present study was a cross-sectional, observational study of 152 (male/female = 61/91, mean age 69.2 ± 9.2 years) individuals. Participants were divided into two groups according to equol production status, which was determined using urine samples collected after a soy challenge test. Cognitive function was assessed using two computer-based questionnaires (touch panel-type dementia assessment scale [TDAS] and mild cognitive impairment [MCI] screen).Overall, 60 (40%) of 152 participants were equol producers. Both TDAS and prevalence of MCI were significantly higher in the equol producer group than in the non-producer group. In univariate analyses, TDAS significantly correlated with age, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In multiple regression analysis using TDAS as a dependent variable, equol producer (β = 0.236, P = 0.005) was selected as an independent variable. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the presence of MCI showed that being an equol producer was an independent risk factor for MCI (odds ratio 3.961).Compared with equol non-producers, equol producers showed an apparent beneficial effect in cognitive function after soy intake. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2103-2108.

Vascular aging is known to be a major determinant of life expectancy. Recently, perceived age was reported to be a better predictor for mortality than chronological age. Based on these findings, we investigated whether or not perceived age was related to atherosclerosis in a general population.The participants were 273 individuals aged ≥ 50 years who participated in the Skin-doc in Anti-Aging Doc program. Facial photos were taken under a shadowless lamp from three directions (antero-posterior, and 60° right and left oblique projection) using a high-resolution digital camera. Perceived age was assessed either by 19 professional nurses in the geriatric ward or using facial identification program software. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), radial augmentation index (AI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured as indices for atherosclerosis.The perceived age difference (expressed as the difference between perceived age and chronological age), when estimated either by nurses or software, was significantly and negatively associated with chronological age. Subjects who were evaluated by nurses to be younger than their chronological age had significantly lower carotid IMT after adjustment for chronological age. Conversely, carotid IMT was an independent and negative determinant of looking young, as perceived by nurses. Similar observations were also made between perceived age using facial identification software and carotid IMT. Radial AI and baPWV were not associated with perceived age.These findings show that carotid atherosclerosis is related to perceived age. This association might underlie previous findings showing that perceived age predicts life expectancy.

Loss of bone mass is a major cause of fracture in the elderly. One-leg standing (OLS) time has been postulated to be predictive of reduced bone mass. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study to clarify whether OLS time measurements are associated with the speed of sound (SOS) of calcaneal bone independent of muscle mass in the lower extremity, a major confounding factor for the association, in a community-dwelling population of middle-aged to elderly subjects.The study subjects consisted of 770 apparently healthy middle-aged to elderly community-residents. Quantitative assessment of calcaneal bone was done using a quantitative ultrasound technique. OLS time with eyes open was measured with a maximum time of 60 s. Femoral muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured from a computed tomography image.Subjects who could not stand 60 s on one leg (n = 192) showed significantly lower SOS (1487 +/- 20, 1501 +/- 24 m/s, P0.001). In addition, femoral muscle CSA was positively associated with SOS (male, r = 0.148, P0.01; female, r = 0.204, P0.001). However, multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and muscle CSA identified short OLS time less than 60 s as an independent determinant of SOS in both male (P0.001) and female (P0.05) subjects. OLS time was significantly associated with posturograph-measured mobility of the center of gravity. However, multiple regression analysis showed no significant correlation between balance impairment and SOS (P0.1).OLS time less than 60 s was significantly associated with reduced SOS independent of age, sex and muscle mass in the lower extremity.

Aging shifts body composition to comprising more fat and less muscle. Sarcopenia, particularly in the knee extensors, and obesity, particularly visceral obesity, either alone or in combination, may exacerbate age-related physical disability. We investigated the association between age-related quadriceps (Qc) sarcopenia and visceral obesity, as measured by cross-sectional area (CSA), on postural instability.Mid-thigh muscle CSA and abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat area at the level of the umbilicus were assessed from computed tomography (CT) images in 410 apparently healthy independent middle-aged to elderly subjects attending the medical check-up program in Ehime University Hospital. Static postural instability using a posturograph and one-leg standing time with eyes open were assessed.Both abdominal visceral fat area and Qc muscle CSA corrected by body weight (BW) were associated with static postural instability, in addition to age and sex, while BW-corrected Qc muscle CSA predicted a short one-leg standing time. The combination of Qc sarcopenia, defined as greater than 1 standard deviation below the mean of a young group (age60 years), and visceral obesity, defined as a visceral fat area of more than 100 cm(2), were associated with static postural instability, while Qc sarcopenia was related to a higher prevalence of one-leg standing time of less than 30 s, irrespective of visceral obesity.Thigh Qc sarcopenia and visceral obesity are associated with postural instability in middle-aged to elderly subjects. These findings suggest that age-related, site-specific fat and muscle mass alterations are associated with functional impairment.