Trajectories of objectively measured physical activity and mood states in older Japanese adults: longitudinal data from the Nakanojo Study

Association of psychosocial factors with physical activity among Japanese adults aged 65 and older: a 6-year repeated cross-sectional study from the Nakanojo Study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) provides substantial mental and physical health benefits for individuals of all ages. A limited number of long-term or longitudinal studies have investigated the association between psychosocial factors and PA in healthy older adults aged 65 and above. This study aimed to determine the long-term relationship between psychosocial factors, such as vitality, mental health, anxiety, and depression, and objectively measure PA in older adults.

METHODS

Healthy participants from Nakanojo, Japan, aged 65-90, capable of walking, were included in this study and were followed up from 2008 to 2013. Those diagnosed with dementia and depression were excluded. Using a repeated cross-sectional dataset, a multilevel model was developed with psychosocial variables as independent variables and an average daily duration of PA volume of > 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) as the outcome. The Akaike information criterion was used to select the final model.

RESULTS

This study included 1108 records from 319 participants. In the multilevel model, age (coefficient = -0.106, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.127 to -0.086, p < 0.001) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression scores (coefficient = -0.019, 95% CI = -0.036 to -0.002, p = 0.026) were negatively associated with the duration of PA volume > 3 METs, whereas male sex (coefficient = 0.343, 95% CI = 0.115 to 0.571, p = 0.003) was positively associated with PA volume.

CONCLUSION

Depressive symptoms were related to a reduced duration of PA volume of > 3 METs among these adults aged 65 and above.

Associated factors of new subjective cognitive decline complaints after a 6-month period among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the number of new subjective cognitive decline (SCD) complaints and associated factors in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

METHOD

A prospective cohort study was conducted in two periods: May to June 2020, and November 2020 to January 2021. We mailed a questionnaire to 1953 older adults in the first survey, and received 700 responses in the second. We analysed 534 participants without SCD in the first survey. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and administered the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) to assess respondents' health condition. SCD was operationally defined using the QMCOO as reports of (1) forgetfulness, and (2) difficulty in naming dates. The subjects were divided into two groups by their condition at the second survey: an SCD (new SCD complaints) and a no-SCD (no new SCD complaints) group.

RESULTS

A total of 85 (15.9%) participants had new SCD complaints. The Mann-Whitney U-test and chi-squared test showed that the SCD group had significantly more risk factors of SCD: walking speed (P = 0.001), smoking (P = 0.001), and existence of person with whom the patient could consult when disordered (P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that walking speed (odds ratio (OR) = 2.115, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.259-3.553) and the presence of person to consult (OR = 3.619, 95% CI: 1.553-8.433) were significant related factors of new SCD complaints.

CONCLUSION

Maintenance of physical condition and social support were associated with new SCD complaints during the COVID-19 pandemic.