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Background/Objectives: Internet use positively impacts mental health in older adults, with health literacy (HL) playing a key role. While social networks may complement individual HL, the role of neighborhood relationships in this association, particularly by gender, remains unclear. This study examined how the association between HL and Internet use among older adults was modified by neighborhood relationships. Methods: Using baseline data from the Chofu–Digital–Choju project, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1955 community-dwelling adults aged 65–84 (889 men and 1066 women). HL was assessed using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale and dichotomized at four points. Neighborhood relationships were categorized as high (visiting/chatting with neighbors) or low (exchanging greetings/no relationship). Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses were performed with Internet use as the dependent variable, with HL, neighborhood relationships, and their interaction as independent variables. Results: Internet user proportion was 55.6% for men and 41.8% for women. HL was positively associated with Internet use in both genders, though patterns differed. Among men, the HL–Internet use association was consistent (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 2.25–4.24) regardless of neighborhood relationship levels. For women, this association was significantly modified (interaction OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.87). Women with low HL but strong neighborhood relationships showed increased odds of Internet use (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.32–3.26). Conclusions: Gender-specific patterns in HL and neighborhood relationships influence Internet use among older adults. Neighborhood relationships may compensate for low HL in women, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive strategies to promote digital HL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: Frailty is a growing public health challenge in Japan's rapidly aging population, where 28.8% are aged ≥ 65. While multicomponent interventions have shown potential in preventing frailty, traditional face-to-face programs face accessibility challenges. This study evaluated the feasibility and short-term changes of an online multicomponent intervention on frailty-related factors among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: In this single-arm feasibility study, 132 participants (mean age 75.7; standard deviation 4.8 years, 65.2% women) completed a six-week online intervention combining exercise, nutrition education, cognitive activities, and the Coimagination Method to foster social connections, meeting weekly for 75 min sessions in groups of up to 10 participants. Results: The intervention demonstrated feasibility with a 96.4% retention rate and a 94.0% average participation rate. While no significant changes were observed in physical activity levels, autonomic nervous system indicators, or cognitive function, carotenoid scores and hemoglobin concentration improved significantly, with more pronounced improvements among women than men. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the high feasibility of online multicomponent interventions for older adults and suggests potential benefits for nutritional status markers, particularly among women. These findings indicate a promising and accessible approach to frailty prevention, though randomized controlled trials with longer intervention periods and direct frailty assessments are required to establish effectiveness conclusively. Study Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000053089). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives : Internet use positively impacts mental health in older adults, with health literacy (HL) playing a key role. While social networks may complement individual HL, the role of neighborhood relationships in this association, particularly by gender, remains unclear. This study examined how the association between HL and Internet use among older adults was modified by neighborhood relationships. Methods : Using baseline data from the Chofu-Digital-Choju project, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1955 community-dwelling adults aged 65-84 (889 men and 1066 women). HL was assessed using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale and dichotomized at four points. Neighborhood relationships were categorized as high (visiting/chatting with neighbors) or low (exchanging greetings/no relationship). Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses were performed with Internet use as the dependent variable, with HL, neighborhood relationships, and their interaction as independent variables. Results : Internet user proportion was 55.6% for men and 41.8% for women. HL was positively associated with Internet use in both genders, though patterns differed. Among men, the HL-Internet use association was consistent (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 2.25-4.24) regardless of neighborhood relationship levels. For women, this association was significantly modified (interaction OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24-0.87). Women with low HL but strong neighborhood relationships showed increased odds of Internet use (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.32-3.26). Conclusions : Gender-specific patterns in HL and neighborhood relationships influence Internet use among older adults. Neighborhood relationships may compensate for low HL in women, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive strategies to promote digital HL.