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During the early period of COVID-19 pandemic, there was a serious shortage of personal protective equipments (PPEs), which caused difficulty in homecare agencies to make home visits to those (possible) positive COVID-19 cases. An organization with the help of several foundations started a special program to distribute PPEs to those agencies in which there was a possible case or those cases that had close contact with the positive cases. This study examined whether this voluntary activity contributed to increasing the sense of security in providing care among homecare workers. We conducted a survey with homecare agencies that received PPEs from the program between July 2020 and February 2021. The participants were agency managers who applied for PPEs. We conducted the survey twice, before and after receiving PPEs. In the questionnaire, we asked about the overall sense of security in providing care for those infected with COVID-19, reasons for applying for PPE, symptoms of the client or his/her family who caused the PPE request, and the agency’s and clients’ characteristics. We analyzed the data from 802 responses. Before PPE distribution, the sense of security was associated with the focal client having a cognitive impairment (β = −0.096), having cough (β = −0.088), fatigue (β = −0.085), or headache (β = −0.078). Agencies that did not visits those (possibly) positive cases (β = −0.123) had lower sense of security. Overall, the mean sense of security increased after receiving PPE. Factors that contributed to the increase in sense of security included a lower sense of security before the application (β = −0.529), visiting clients without dyspnoea (β = −0.109), the agency that did not visit positive cases before the application (β = −0.089), and with higher satisfaction with the days of PPEs received (β = 0.144). These results underline the benefit of the special PPsE distribution program.

People are living longer, and our life has become more digital. Hence, the benefits from digital technology, including economic growth, increasing labor productivity, and ensuring health equity in the face of an aging population emerged as a vital topic for countries around the world. Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Singapore, and Thailand are in the top ten rankings in terms of information and communication technology (ICT) development within the Asia Pacific Region and all are facing challenges of population aging. Well-designed national ICT policy and health promotion policies enabled the countries to make significant progress and development in terms of digitalization and healthy aging. This paper aims to answer questions regarding digitization and health promotion: when it started, how it is going, what are the achievements, and what it holds for the future, considering healthy aging and digitalization by reviewing the national ICT policy and health promotion policies of Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. This paper is expected to help readers build a comprehensive understanding of each country’s journey towards building a healthy aging digital society. Furthermore, we hope this paper can be a source for countries to exchange experiences and learn from each other with a joint goal of building a healthy aging digital society.

One out of three people in Japan will be an older person before 2040. Half of those currently do not utilize the internet, smartphone apps, or digital technology. On the other hand, more than 70% of seniors in Republic of Korea use the internet, and 55% in Singapore had access to it in 2019. The use of digital technology for health promotion has the potential to promote individual and community empowerment, advocating for healthy, active aging. Maintaining equity in health promotion practice requires the digital inclusion of every senior. Therefore, we propose a cross-cultural study to explain the contextual influences of digital inclusion and its consequences on healthy aging in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Quantitatively: digital skills, e-health literacy, participation in health promotion, and quality of life will be analyzed in structural equation models. Qualitatively: thematic analysis will be developed to identify cultural patterns and contextual factors, making sense of what older persons in different countries materialize, say, do, think, and feel to reveal deeper beliefs and core values about digital inclusion and healthy aging. Logics and methods from this protocol would be useful to replicate the study in many countries globally. Evidence from this study is expected to pave the way to digitally inclusive, healthy aging communities (DIHAC) across Japan and Asia.

Background Socioeconomic mobility affects health throughout the life course. However, it is not known whether there are gender differences in the association between life-course subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) mobility and mortality at older ages. Methods Participants were 16,690 community-dwelling adults aged 65-100 years in the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). Baseline information including demographic characteristics, depression, and lifestyle factors were collected in 2010. Participants' vital status was confirmed in 2013 via linkage to death records. We categorized life-course socioeconomic mobility into the following categories: 'persistently high', 'downward mobility', 'upward mobility', and 'persistently low'. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality. Results Mortality HRs for the 'downward' group were 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.74) among men and 1.27 (95% CI, 0.94-1.71) among women in comparison with the 'persistently high' group. Compared to the 'persistently low' group, the HRs for the 'upward' group were 0.54 (95% CI, 0.35-0.83) among women and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.73-1.24) among men. Associations were not changed after adjusting for objective socioeconomic status but were attenuated by depression. Conclusions 'Downward' mobility was associated with mortality among men, but not among women. Depression appeared to mediate the association. A protective effect of upward mobility was observed among women but not among men.

Aims/Introduction To compare the dementia risk associated with pre‐existing diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) and underweight (BMI, The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a cohort study, compared the risks of dementia among varied profiles of metabolic disease and body mass index in Japanese older adults. Underweight and prevalent diabetes were risk factors for developing dementia. Lower body mass index was associated with higher dementia incidence.

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate whether there is a differential association between socioeconomic status (SES) and adherence to hypertension medication among older adults in rural and urban areas in Myanmar and assess what type of SES is associated with a difference.DesignCross-sectional study using baseline data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study in Myanmar prospective cohort study. A multistage random sampling method was applied in each region.SettingAn urban and a rural area in Myanmar.ParticipantsA total of 1200 older adults over 60 years old in Myanmar were randomly selected in 2018 (600 each from rural and urban areas). Of them, 573 had hypertension and were eligible for the analysis (urban: 317, rural: 256).OutcomeAdherence to hypertension medication (yes/no) is the outcome of interest. Three types of SES (wealth, education and current employment status) were the independent variables.ResultsWe found that 21.5% of urban residents and 48.4% of rural residents were non-adherent in the study population. Poisson regression modelling stratified by area was performed to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs) of not following treatment instructions. Demographic information and complications of hypertension were adjusted for in all models as possible confounders. In terms of SES, middle level of wealth compared with low level was significantly associated with poor adherence (PR 2.68, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.59) in the urban area, but education and employment status did not show similar associations. Lower education compared with middle/high school or higher was significantly associated with poor adherence in the rural area (no school: PR 3.22, 1.37–7.58; monastic: 3.42, 1.16–5.07; primary school: 2.41, 1.18–4.95), but wealth and income did not show similar associations.ConclusionsSES and adherence to hypertension medication were differently associated among older adults in rural and urban areas in Myanmar. To ensure healthcare access to hypertension treatment for every citizen, the differential association between SES and adherence in urban/rural areas needs to be recognised.

Objectives Lower socio-economic status (SES) may be associated with dementia later in life, but there is inconsistent evidence supporting this claim. We aim to examine the association between three SESs (education, job, and income indicators) and dementia onset in older adults. Methods Study design was a 6-year prospective cohort study. Participants included a total of 52 063 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older without long-term care needs from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Outcome variable was dementia onset. Explanatory variables were educational years, the longest job held, and equivalised household income. We performed Cox proportional hazard analysis by gender with multiple imputation. Results During the follow-up period, 10.5% of participants acquired dementia. The adjusted risks of dementia incidence of the participants with less than 6 years of education were 1.34 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.73) in men and 1.21 (1.00-1.45) times in women higher than those with more than 13 years of education. Females with less than 1.99 million yen (hazard ratio = 0.83, 0.72-0.96) of equivalised income were less likely to acquire dementia than those with four million yen or higher. Conclusions Educational attainment had a robust impact on dementia onset compared with the other SES factors in both genders of older Japanese people. Securing an education for children could be crucial to prevent dementia later in life. The longest job held was less likely to be risks of dementia incidence, compared with the other two factors.

The aim of the study was to investigate rural–urban differences in depressive symptoms in terms of the risk factors among older adults of two regions in Myanmar to provide appropriate intervention for depression depending on local characteristics. This cross-sectional study, conducted between September and December, 2018, used a multistage sampling method to recruit participants from the two regions, for face-to-face interviews. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Depressive symptoms were positively associated with living in rural areas (B = 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.12,0.72), female (B = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31,0.79), illness during the preceding year (B = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.45,0.91) and non-Buddhist religion (B = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.001,1.15) and protectively associated with education to middle school level or higher (B = −0.61, 95% CI: −0.94, −0.28) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.30, −0.10). In women in urban areas, depressive symptoms were positively associated with illness during the preceding year (B = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.36, 1.20) and protectively associated with education to middle school level or higher (B = −0.67, 95% CI: −1.23, −0.11), middle or high wealth index (B = −0.92, 95% CI: −1.59, −0.25) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.03). In men in rural areas, illness during the preceding year was positively associated with depressive symptoms (B = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.33, 1.42). In women in rural areas, depressive symptoms were positively associated with illness during the preceding year (B = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.36, 1.30) and protectively associated with primary education (B = −0.62, 95% CI: −1.12, −0.12) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.44, 95% CI: −0.68, −0.21). Religion and wealth could have different levels of association with depression between older adults in the urban and rural areas and men and women. Interventions for depression in older adults should consider regional and gender differences in the roles of religion and wealth in Myanmar.

Low objective socioeconomic status (SES) has been correlated with poor physical and mental health among older adults. Some studies suggest that subjective SES is also important for ensuring sound physical and mental health among older adults. However, few studies have been conducted on the impact of both objective and subjective SES on mental health among older adults. This study examines whether objective or subjective SES is associated with depressive symptoms in older adults in Myanmar. This cross-sectional study, conducted between September and December, 2018, used a multistage sampling method to recruit participants from two regions of Myanmar, for face-to-face interviews. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to evaluate the depressive symptoms. Participants were classified as having no depressive symptom (GDS score

Objectives Dementia prevention is an important issue in the current super-aging society. Previous studies have shown a low risk of dementia in older adults who have hobbies, especially gardening, tourism, and those that are sports-based. However, it is unclear whether the effect of dementia prevention differs according to the specific type and number of hobbies. This study aims to clarify the relationship of dementia onset with the type and number of hobbies practiced by a person.Methods This prospective cohort study conducted between 2010 and 2016 by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study surveyed 56,624 functionally independent individuals aged 65 years and over who had non-missing information on age and gender. A total of 49,705 participants who provided valid answers to the question regarding hobbies, and were followed for 365 days or more, were analyzed. The primary outcome of this study was dementia, which was assessed by the nationally standardized dementia scale proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan. Explanatory variables were specific types of hobbies practiced by 5% or more of older adults (males: 14 types and females: 11 types) and the number of hobbies an individual engaged in (0~5 types or more). The covariates were basic characteristics, diseases, health behavior, social support, psychology/cognition, and instrumental activities of daily living. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for a total of 22 variables.Results In total, 4,758 patients (9.6%) developed dementia during the follow-up period. The following hobbies were related to a lower risk of developing incident dementia: a) both in males and females, ground golf (HR: males, 0.80; females, 0.80) and travel (males, 0.80; females, 0.76); b) only in males, golf (0.61), use of a personal computer (0.65), fishing (0.81), and photo shooting (0.83); and c) only in females, handicrafts (0.73), and gardening (0.85). A significant trend was observed indicating that the risk of dementia was lower as the number of hobbies increased for both males and females (males, 0.84; females, 0.78).Conclusion The results of this study suggest that both male and female older adults who engaged in ground golf and travel as a hobby had a lower risk of developing dementia, and the risk decreased as the number of hobbies increased. Providing an environment in which older adults can engage in various hobbies that are associated with less risk of developing dementia, may be an effective measure for preventing dementia.

BackgroundFew studies have examined whether objective or subjective economic status (ES) has a greater effect on the happiness of older adults in developing countries with ageing populations. This study examined whether objective/subjective economic status (ES) is associated with happiness in older adults in Myanmar.MethodA multistage, random sampling procedure and face-to-face interviews were conducted in urban and rural areas in Myanmar. The happiness of 1,200 participants aged 60+ was evaluated using a single happiness score of 0 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy). The wealth index, used as an objective economic indicator, was calculated from household asset items. Subjective economic status was assessed by asking “Which of the following best describes your current financial situation in light of general economic conditions?” The possible responses ranged from (1) very difficult to (5) very comfortable. ResultsThe mean happiness score was lower among participants with low objective and subjective ES than among those with medium or high objective ES (6.24 versus 6.80 points, p < 0.001) and average or higher subjective ES (5.62 versus 6.83 points, p < 0.001), respectively. Both low objective and subjective ES were negatively associated with happiness after adjusting for confounding variables (B: -0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.69, -0.13 and B: -0.71, 95% CI: -1.00, -0.42, respectively) and stratification by region (low objective ES, urban: B: -0.52, 95% CI: -1.03, -0.02; low subjective ES, urban: B: -0.50, 95% CI: -0.96, -0.03; low objective ES, rural: B: -0.37, 95% CI: -0.73, -0.02; and low subjective ES, rural: B: -0.80, 95% CI: -1.18, -0.41). ConclusionsIn Myanmar, both objective and subjective ES might influence happiness among older adults. Although they had a similar impact on happiness in urban areas, subjective ES had a stronger impact in rural areas. Interventions for promoting happiness in older adults should consider differences in how objective/subjective ES impacts happiness in different regions, and focus should be placed not only on improving objective ES but also subjective ES in society.

Few studies have examined whether objective or subjective economic status (ES) has a greater association with the happiness of older adults, despite concerns regarding the growing economic cost of morbidity and their functional dependence in developing countries with aging populations. Thus, this study examined whether objective/subjective ES was associated with happiness in older adults in two Myanmar regions. A multistage random sampling procedure and face-to-face interviews were conducted in the urban and rural areas of Myanmar. The happiness of 1200 participants aged >60 years was evaluated using a single happiness score ranging from 0 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy). The wealth index, used as an objective ES, was calculated from 17 household asset items, such as radio, washing machines, and television. Subjective ES was assessed by asking “Which of the following best describes your current financial situation in light of general economic conditions?” Responses ranged from “very difficult” to “very comfortable”. Both low objective and subjective ES were negatively associated with happiness, after adjusting for confounding variables and stratification by region (urban and rural areas). Although objective and subjective ES had similar associations with happiness in urban areas, subjective ES had a stronger association in rural areas.

Background Although living in a hilly environment may promote muscular activity in the daily lives of residents, and such activity may prevent diabetes mellitus, few studies have focused on the impact of living in a hilly environment on diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a hilly neighborhood environment on DM in older people. Methods We used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a population-based, cross-sectional study of individuals aged 65 or older without long-term care needs in Japan, which was conducted in 2010. A total of 8904 participants in 46 neighborhoods had responded to the questionnaire and undergone a health check. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed as HbA 1c ≥ 6.5% and those undergoing treatment for diabetes mellitus. Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in those without other chronic diseases who had an HbA 1c > 7.5%, and in those with other chronic diseases if their HbA 1c was >8.0%. Neighborhood environment was evaluated based on the percentage of positive responses in the questionnaire and geographical information system data. A multilevel analysis was performed, adjusted for individual-level risk factors. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was conducted for those who were undergoing treatment for diabetes mellitus (n = 1007). Results After adjustment for other physical environmental and individual covariates, a 1 interquartile range increase (1.48°) in slope in the neighborhood decreased the risk of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus by 18% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70–0.97). Sensitivity analysis confirmed that larger slopes in the neighborhood showed a significant protective effect against diabetes mellitus among those who were undergoing treatment for diabetes mellitus (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59–0.90). Conclusion A hilly neighborhood environment was not associated with diabetes mellitus, but was protective against poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

PurposeMyanmar is rapidly ageing. It is important to understand the current condition of older adults in the country. To obtain such information, we conducted home-visit surveys to collect data for evaluating social determinants of health on older adults in Yangon (representative of an urban) and Bago (representative of a rural) regions of Myanmar.ParticipantsOverall, 1200 individuals aged 60 years or older and who were not bedridden or had severe dementia (defined as an Abbreviated Mental Test score ≤6) were recruited from Yangon and Bago in 2018. A population-proportionate random-sampling method was used for recruitment.Findings to dateOverall, 600 individuals from Yangon (222 men; 378 women) and 600 from Bago (261 men; 339 women) were surveyed. The average age of Yangon-based men and women was 69.4±7.6 and 69.4±7.3 years; in Bago, this was 69.2±7.1 and 70.6±7.5 years, respectively. Compared to their Yangon-based counterparts, Bago-based respondents showed significantly lower socioeconomic status and more commonly reported poor self-rated health (Bago-based men: 32.2%, women: 42.5%; Yangon: 10.8% and 24.1%, respectively). Meanwhile, some Yangon-based respondents rarely met friends (men: 17.1%, women: 27.8%), and Yangon-based respondents scored higher for instrumental activities of daily living and body mass index when compared to their Bago-based counterparts. For both regions, women showed higher physical-function decline (Yangon-based women: 40.7%, men: 17.1%; Bago: 46.3% and 23.8%, respectively) and cognitive-function decline (Yangon: 34.1% and 10.4%, respectively; Bago: 53.4% and 22.2%, respectively). Being homebound was more common in urban areas (urban-based men: 11.3%, rural-based men: 2.3%; urban-based women: 13.0%, rural-based women: 4.7%, respectively).Future plansA follow-up survey is scheduled for 2021. This will afford longitudinal data collection concerning mortality, becoming bedridden, and developing dementia and long-term care-related diseases. This will allow us to calculate long-term care risks for older adults in Myanmar.

This study compared the relationship between social participation, including work, and incidence of functional decline in rural and urban older people in Japan, by focusing on the number and types of organizations older people participated in. The longitudinal data of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) that followed 55,243 individuals aged 65 years or older for six years were used. The Cox proportional hazards model was employed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of the incidence of functional decline over six years and the stratification of rural and urban settings. In this model, we adjusted 13 variables as behavioral, psychosocial, and functional confounders. The more rural and urban older people participated in various organizations, the more they were protected from functional decline. Participation in sports (HR: rural = 0.79, urban = 0.83), hobby groups (HR: rural = 0.76, urban = 0.90), and work (HR: rural = 0.83, urban = 0.80) significantly protected against the incidence of decline in both rural and urban areas. For both rural and urban older people, promoting social participation, such as sports and hobby groups and employment support, seemed to be an important aspect of public health policies that would prevent functional decline.

Background While bathing styles vary among countries, most Japanese people prefer tub bathing to showers and saunas. However, few studies have examined the relationship between tub bathing and health outcomes. Accordingly, in this prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between tub bathing frequency and the onset of functional disability among older people in Japan. Methods We used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). The baseline survey was conducted from August 2010 through January 2012 and enrolled 13,786 community-dwelling older people (6,482 men and 7,304 women) independent in activities of daily living. During a 3-year observation period, the onset of functional disability, identified by new certification for need of Long-Term Care Insurance, was recorded. Tub bathing frequencies in summer and winter at baseline were divided into three groups: low frequency (0-2 times/week), moderate frequency (3-6 times/week), and high frequency (≥7 times/week). We estimated the risks of functional disability in each group using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results Functional disability was observed in a total of 1,203 cases (8.7%). Compared with the low-frequency group and after adjustment for 14 potential confounders, the hazard ratios of the moderate- and high-frequency groups were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-1.10) and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.85) for summer and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.76-1.07) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.60-0.84) for winter. Conclusion High tub bathing frequency is associated with lower onset of functional disability. Therefore, tub bathing might be beneficial for older people's health.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami resulted in widespread property destruction and over 250,000 displaced residents. We sought to examine whether the type of housing arrangement available to the affected victims was associated with a differential incidence of depressive symptoms. In this prospective cohort study, which comprised participants aged ≥65 years from Iwanuma as a part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, we had information about the residents’ mental health both before the disaster in 2010 and 2.5 years afterward. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used. Type of accommodation after the disaster was divided into 5 categories: no move, prefabricated housing (temporary housing), existing private accommodations (temporary apartment), newly established housing, and other. Poisson regression analysis was adopted, with and without multiple imputation. Among the 2,242 participants, 16.2% reported depressive symptoms at follow-up. The adjusted rate ratio for depressive symptoms among persons moving into prefabricated housing, compared with those who did not, was 2.07 (95% confidence interval: 1.45, 2.94). Moving into existing private accommodations or other types of accommodations was not associated with depression. The relationship between living environment and long-term mental health should be considered for disaster recovery planning.

Background Increasing evidence suggests an impact of childhood disadvantage on late-life functional impairment in Western countries. However, the processes by which childhood disadvantage affects functional capacity are influenced by several factors unique to particular societies. We examined the impact of childhood disadvantage on functional decline among older Japanese, using a large-scale prospective cohort study. Methods Data came from surveys conducted in 2010 and 2013 as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), a nationwide cohort study targeting community-dwelling people aged 65 years and over. Childhood disadvantage included subjective childhood socioeconomic status (SES), body height, and educational level. The sample was stratified by age at baseline (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and ≥ 80 years). Results A total of 11,601 respondents were analyzed. In the 65-69-year group, lower childhood SES was associated with functional decline but this association was mediated by adult SES. In contrast, childhood SES was independently associated with functional decline in the older cohort. In the 75-79-year group, lower childhood SES was associated with functional decline. However, in the ≥ 80-year group, people with higher childhood SES were more likely to experience functional decline. Shorter height was associated with functional decline in the 70-74-year group. Higher education was related to functional decline in all age groups except the ≥ 80-year group. Conclusions These findings suggest that childhood disadvantage affects functional decline but its effect varies by age cohort. The mechanisms underlying the association between childhood disadvantage and functional decline may be influenced by social and historical context.

Aim The present study examined whether social support, informal socializing and social participation are associated with glycemic control in older people. Methods Data for this population-based cross-sectional study was obtained from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) 2010 linked to the annual health check-up data in Japan. We analyzed 9,554 individuals aged ≥65 years without the certification of needed long-term care. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of social support, informal socializing and social participations on glycemic control. The outcome measure was HbA1c ≥8.4%. Results 1.3% of the participants had a level of HbA1c over 8.4%. Better glycemic control was significantly associated with meeting with friends one to four times per month (odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.30-0.89, compared to meeting with friends a few times per year or less) and participation in sports groups (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.97) even after adjusting for other variables. Meeting with friends more than twice per week, receiving social support, and being married were not associated with better control of diabetes. Conclusions Meeting with friends occasionally is associated with better glycemic control among older people.

Background Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage has been previously linked to increased mortality risk in adulthood. However, most previous studies have focused on middle-aged adults in Western contexts. Here, we sought to examine the association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and mortality among healthy older Japanese adults. Methods We conducted a 3-year follow-up of participants in the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), a population-based cohort of 65- to 103-year-old Japanese adults. Childhood SES was assessed by survey at baseline. Mortality from 2010 to 2013 was analysed for 15 449 respondents (7143 men and 8306 women). Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for risk of death. Results A total of 754 deaths occurred during the 3-year follow-up. Lower childhood SES was significantly associated with lower mortality in men, but not in women. Compared with men growing up in more advantaged childhood socioeconomic circumstances, the age-adjusted HR for men from low childhood SES backgrounds was 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56-1.00]. The association remained significant after adjustment for height, education, adult SES, municipalities of residence, health behaviours, disease status and current social relationships (HR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.47-0.87). This association was stronger among men aged 75 years or older, HR = 0.67 (95% CI: 0.47-0.95), compared with men aged 65-74 years, HR = 0.90 (95% CI: 0.54-1.51). Conclusions Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with lower mortality among men aged 75 years or older, which may be due to selective survival, or alternatively to childhood physical training or postwar calorie restriction in this generation of Japanese males.