Search

Objective: Social networks are critical social health factors for older adults. This study examined the association between social networks and dietary variety among community-dwelling older adults. Design: A cross-sectional study, using the dietary variety score (DVS) developed for older Japanese people to assess dietary variety and the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) to assess social networks. Setting: N City, H Prefecture, Japan. Participants: Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years (n 1229). Results: The LSNS-6 score in the low DVS group was lower than that in the middle and high DVS groups (12·2 ± 5·6 v. 13·4 ± 5·4 and 14·4 ± 5·7, P < 0·001). The population of social isolation (LSNS-6, < 12) in the low DVS group was higher than that in the middle and high DVS groups (43·5 % v. 35·8 % and 31·0 %, P = 0·005). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the LSNS-6 score was positively correlated with DVS (standardised coefficient, 0·092; P = 0·002). Social isolation was also significantly associated with a low DVS in the multivariate-adjusted logistic analysis model (OR, 1·30; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·68; P = 0·048). Stratified analysis results revealed the LSNS-6 and DVS were significantly associated in participants with the following characteristics: younger age (< 75 years), women and those living with someone. Conclusions: Social networks were associated with dietary variety; social isolation was related to poor dietary variety among community-dwelling older adults. An association between social networks and dietary variety was observed among young-old older adults, women and those living with someone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although autism is now recognized as being very common (Buie et al., 2010) and as developing due to not only genetic but also environmental factors, there is insufficient epidemiological evidence on the relationship between autism and allergy. In this study, therefore, we attempted to clarify the association of environmental factors with autism and allergy using a population-based epidemiological study and to propose a newly developed screening method with improved validity by determining the relationship between ASD (autism spectrum disorders) subscales. We examined the association among autistic score from the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ Japanese version), living environment factors, and allergic disease in 1407 children aged 3-5 years old. We recognized that children with higher ASD score have significantly higher prevalence of nasal allergy and associated with significantly factors of boy and first in terms of birth order and maternal smoking. In addition, nasal allergy were observed to be associated with "reciprocal social interaction", "language and communication", and "repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors" as subscales of ASD. These results suggest that autism in children were closely related to allergy and environmental factors. Investigation of allergy symptoms in addition to subscale of ASD seem to enable more efficient screening of autism tendency at an earlier stage. (Contains 5 tables.)

Previous studies outlined the correlation of adverse effects of breakfast skipping with cognitive function. However, the majority of these studies have focused on the short-term effects; to date, the long-term effect of breakfast skipping on cognitive function among older adults remains unclear. In this prospective cohort study of 712 older adults (mean age, 70.8 years), breakfast skipping was defined as skipping breakfast one or more times per week, and declines in cognitive score was defined as decreases in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of two or more in the observed period. During follow-up (median, 31 months), 135 of 712 participants developed declines in cognitive score. Poisson regression models revealed that the incidence rate for declines in cognitive score was significantly higher in breakfast skipper (n = 29) than breakfast eaters (n = 683) [incidence rate ratio (IRR), 2.10; 95% CI, 1.28-3.44]. Additional propensity score adjustments related to breakfast skipping from baseline parameters (age, gender, smoking and drinking status, BMI, household income, educated level, depressive symptoms, hypertension, diabetes, sleep medication, physical activity, caloric intake, and baseline cognition) produced consistent results (IRR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.33-3.68). Sensitivity analysis, when the cut-off value of decreases in MMSE score was changed to three points, suggested a significant and stronger association (IRR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.72-5.35). Regarding daily intakes of food groups, breakfast skippers consumed a significantly lower amount of vegetables, fruits, and fish than breakfast eaters. In conclusion, our findings suggest that breakfast skipping is longitudinally associated with declines in cognitive score among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the relationship between diet and frailty in community-dwelling older adults during the period of restriction on outings due to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Method A mail survey targeting adults aged 65 years or older, including questions on sex, age, height, weight, and social participation, was conducted in May 2020. The participants' dietary variety score and frailty score were then calculated. Results Overall, 322 women aged 65 years or older and who were living in the community were recruited for the study; 253 were finally analyzed. The mean age of the 253 participants was 80.0 ± 6.4 years. The dietary variety score and frailty scores were significantly correlated in the linear regression analysis (β: −0.224, p <.001). In the multivariate regression analysis, these factors remained significantly correlated in Model 1, which was adjusted for age (β: −0.229, p <.001), and Model 2, which was adjusted for age, body mass index, and other confounding factors (β: −0.208, p =.001). Discussion Diet was correlated with frailty in older adults living in the community during the period of restriction on outings due to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decreased muscle strength is associated with functional limitation and disability and is a predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Recently, oxidative stress and inflammation have been shown to contribute to the loss of muscle strength, and although melatonin has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, the association between melatonin secretion and muscle strength remains unclear.Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 760 community-based elderly individuals (mean age, 71.0 years), we measured overnight urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion (UME) and grip strength and quadriceps strength.Results: Median UME was 7.0 μg (interquartile range, 4.2-11.1), and mean grip and quadriceps strength were 27.5±8.4kg and 162.6±80.1 Nm, respectively. On dividing participants into quartiles by their UME level (lowest-highest UME, Q1-Q4), higher quartiles were significantly associated with increased grip strength and quadriceps strength (p for trend < .001, both). Multivariable analyses adjusted for potential confounders (age, gender, body mass index, smoking and drinking statuses, renal function, hypertension, diabetes, physical activity, depressed mood, cognitive impairment, bedtime, sleep duration, and day length) revealed that both grip and quadriceps strength were significantly increased in Q4 compared with that in Q1 (adjusted mean difference, Q4 - Q1: grip strength, 1.5kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-2.6kg; p = .006; quadriceps strength, 14.2 Nm; 95% CI, 1.3-27.1 Nm; p = .031).Conclusions: Melatonin secretion was significantly associated with muscle strength in this elderly population. Further longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain the effect of melatonin levels on muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Sleep disturbance is a common health problem in the elderly population. We examined the association between dietary variety and subjective sleep quality in community-dwelling elderly Japanese women.Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study recruited 160 community-dwelling elderly women aged ≥65 years. Subjective sleep quality and dietary variety were assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and dietary variety score (DVS), respectively. DVS was calculated from the eating frequency of 10 food groups. Sleep disturbance was defined as PSQI score of ≥6.Results: The DVS in subjects with sleep disturbance was significantly lower than that of those without the disturbance (4.1±2.1 vs 5.3±2.1, p<0.01). In the multivariable regression model, the PSQI score was negatively correlated with the DVS score in age-adjusted model (standardized coefficient; -0.234, p<0.01). In the further adjusted model that included depression levels, the negative association between PSQI score and DVS score was retained (standardized coefficient; -0.211, p<0.05). Among 10 food groups comprising DVS, the eating frequency of soybean and soybean products was the determinant of sleep disturbance in the stepwise liner regression analysis. In the further model that contained DVS, DVS was the independent determinant of sleep disturbance, while the eating frequency of soybean and soybean products was excluded.Conclusions: A worse sleep quality was associated with lower DVS in elderly Japanese women. Diet comprising various food groups was better for sleep quality than consuming only a particular food in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]