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Introduction: COVID-19 caused major disruptions across the super-aged nation of Japan, yet few studies explored temporal changes among middle-aged and older cohorts from baseline to the height of community transmission. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during global pandemics may alter patterns of morbidity and mortality among susceptible aging populations. Objectives: This study investigated patterns of physical activity, sitting behavior, and health among representative samples of middle-aged and older adults in Tokyo before and during the pandemic. Methods: Repeated online surveys were conducted with quota samples of 800 Tokyo residents in 2019 and 2021 using validated Japanese-language measures, including the short form-International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Basic Ecological Health Scale-6. Statistical analyses included comparative evaluations of activity parameters by age cohort, gender, and selected covariates. Statistical tests included the Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test for Independence and Hierarchical Regression. Results: Over 34% of respondents were inactive at each data collection point, and 72% reported negative impacts of COVID-19 on their physical activities. Older adults showed no significant changes in their activity and sitting behavior and reported better health compared with those in middle age across the pandemic. Middle-aged males reported a significant decline in total activity of 33% across the pandemic period (U = 16,958, z = −2.64, p =.008, r =.13). Middle-aged females reported the lowest levels of physical activity, and health, and showed a 29% increase in sitting behavior across the pandemic (U = 16,925, z = −2.68, p =.007, r =.13). Subjective health status was consistently associated with higher overall activity and walking before and during the pandemic. Conclusion: Differential outcomes were identified between age and gender regarding health, physical activity, walking, and sitting across the pandemic with significantly worse impacts reported among middle-aged samples. Implications: These results have implications for healthy transitions to later life and the design of postpandemic interventions to address activity opportunities in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines physical activity (PA) parameters among urban-living middle-aged and older Japanese during the Tokyo Olympic build-up period. Population sampling was employed, and an online survey was administered with 4,000 adults across Japan's five largest cities. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form constituted the main outcome variable, with auxiliary measures of Olympic interest and engagement, readiness for PA behavior change, perceived environmental barriers, and demographic information. Despite interest in the Olympics (>60% moderate–high interest), planned engagement with the event was low (>70% planned passive engagement). Higher levels of interest and planned engagement were both significantly correlated with greater self-reported PA participation (p <.001). Across the sample, the PA levels were in the low–moderate range (990 metabolic equivalent of task-min/week), with significant variations observed by the age-cohort and geographic area (p <.001). Age-cohort and geographic variations were also identified with regard to readiness for PA behavior change and perceived environmental barriers to activity (p <.001). Older age (65 years and above) and host city (Tokyo) residence emerged as correlates of higher levels of PA, greater readiness for behavior change, and fewer reported barriers to participation. These findings have implications for Olympic legacy management and successful transitions from middle age to later life in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of urban environments often influences neighborhood physical activity and is crucial to supporting the health and mobility of aging urban populations. However, changes to urban infrastructure take time to implement and are rarely evaluated over long periods. In this study, we examined the long-term outcomes of rapid urban change and rebuilding following a sequence of devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. The study drew on a novel mixed-methods approach, including on-site environmental audits, desktop spatial analyses, and subjective auditor observations, to track support for active aging over a decade of post-disaster rebuilding in 10 aging neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst ongoing debate about the viability of physical activity (PA) legacies associated with hosting international sports mega events, this systematic review explores quantitative evidence from population studies that utilize repeated measures. This review is guided by the PRISMA protocol and includes article quality evaluation techniques from health intervention research. Structured Boolean searches were conducted across six databases and grey literature sources. In total, 12 studies were identified from the last two decades across four event typologies. Among these studies, 9 were evaluated as being of higher quality, but only 4 employed standard definitions or measures of PA. Among the higher quality studies, two-thirds found no evidence for statistically significantly PA legacies, although gaps and limitations precluded definitive assessment. Common concerns include limited evaluation of covariates, sweeping conclusions based on insufficient evidence, arbitrary conceptualization and operalization of PA, and lack of triangulation. Research recommendations for resolving the impasse are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hosting the Olympic Games provides opportunities for municipalities to re-imagine urban spaces to promote active leisure. Our research systematically assessed the pre-Olympic conditions for leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in the vicinity of multi-use venues for the Tokyo Games. Researchers conducted walking audits in the surrounds of three venues within two years of the opening ceremony, including the Olympic Stadium, Athlete Village and Musashino Sports Plaza. Audits employed the validated Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) instrument, photographic protocols and GPS mapping. Audit scores for urban features, amenities and incivilities were averaged across researchers, and summative scores provided. Photographs and field notes augmented the evaluation. Six environmental challenges for LTPA legacies were identified, including limited resource accessibility, lack of amenities, health nuisance, vegetation overgrowth, heat effects and disaster risk. These findings indicate that there are important ecological considerations that should be addressed to leverage Olympic hosting in support of LTPA objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. This research evaluated dementia knowledge and educational needs among the Australian health workforce. An online version of the validated Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was administered with a random sample of 234 health professionals across eight Australian states. Respondents provided additional self-report data concerning dementia experiences, educational needs, and demographic information. Dementia knowledge deficiencies were identified concerning risk factors, prevalent typologies of the condition, and cognitive symptoms. Prior university education and dementia-specific training were predictive of significantly higher knowledge scores. Self-reported dementia education needs included nonpharmaceutical interventions for the behavioral and psychological symptoms and best-evidence care provision. Knowledge deficiencies among health workers suggest patients with dementia may not be receiving consistent, best-evidence care in Australia. The research findings will support the development of a targeted online dementia education intervention that aims to improve health worker knowledge and patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports mega-events, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, have the potential to inspire increases in population physical activity, yet investigations concerning such legacy outcomes have been inconclusive. This may be due to research design limitations or inconsistent leveraging of potential hosting benefits by event organizers. This systematic review aims to identify current knowledge about the capacity of sports mega-events to inspire increases in physical activity participation among adult populations and develop a research agenda to guide future legacy evaluations. Peer-reviewed, English-language studies published on or after the year 2000 were considered. Six academic databases and grey literature sources were searched, and articles were assessed for methodological quality. Reporting followed PRISMA conventions for systematic reviews. Nine studies were selected after quality evaluation, including previous reviews, quantitative and qualitative research. Most studies found no evidence for long-term physical activity outcomes associated with hosting sports mega-events, although limitations and gaps were identified. These included lack of longitudinal or cohort studies, limited differentiation of subpopulations, use of non-validated instruments, and lack of triangulation for qualitative findings. Only one cohort study from Japan identified sustainable and significant physical activity increases resulting from a previous sports mega-event. Considering theory, the commonly cited Demonstration Effect was reportedly an unreliable framework, although the Festival Effect and Social Ecological Model appear more promising for anticipating and explaining legacy effects. With less than two years until the Tokyo 2020 Olympiad, it is appropriate to commence high-quality legacy research drawing on lessons learned from previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section presents the retracted article entitled "Online Education Improves Dementia Knowledge: Evidence from an International Intervention" which was published in a 2018 digital edition of the "Journal of Applied Gerontology."

Population aging may increase chronic disease prevalence in Japan without widespread health behavior change. Walking and sitting are common behaviors that are amenable to intervention. This study examined age-related variations in daily walking and sitting time among middle-aged and older Japanese who live in urban areas. An online survey including validatedmeasureswas administered with a representative sample of 4,000 middle-aged and older adults from five large cities. Walking time showed a significant association with age, and the oldest cohortwalked 25%more per day compared to those in early middle age, F (3, 3996) = 8.04, p < .001. Sitting time showed a significant decline with age, F (3, 3996) = 3.83, p < .001, although gender differences were evident among the oldest cohorts. Early middle age (45-54 years) appears to be associated with lesswalking and more sitting time in Japan. This study has implications for healthy aging and successful transitions to retirement in Japan. Occupational and environmental interventions are recommended to facilitate increases in activity and reductions in sedentary behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]