1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Analysis of Factors Related with Comprehensive Geriatric Functions in Community-Dwelling Elderly : Kohoku Longitudinal Aging Study
| Project/Area Number |
09670395
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Public health/Health science
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| Research Institution | KOCHI MEDICAL SCHOOL |
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Principal Investigator |
MATSUBAYASHI Kozo Kochi Medical School, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (70190494)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
OKUMIYA Kiyohito Kochi Medical School, Research Associate, 医学部, 助手 (20253346)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1997 – 1999
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| Keywords | community-dwelling elderly / ADL / Independence / quality of life / neurobehavioral functions / life style / longitudinal study |
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| Research Abstract |
We reported the secular improvement in self-care independence of old people linving in a Japanese rural community, Kahoku in which the annual community-based geriatric intervention was introduce since 1991. (Lancet, 1996). The community-based geriatric intervention includes ; 1) Geriatric examination of the elderly aged 75 years or older. 2) Monthly report of the health condition of elderly subjects. 3) Patrol visit by community nurses. 4) Health lecture meetings. 5) Exercise programs for the elderly. 6) Daytime-care services for the frail elderly.
Our results as follows ; (1) Independent rate of elderly in Kahoku improved from 71% to 87% during 8 years (Lancet, 1997). (2) Lower cholsterol group shows significanntly faster decline in MMSE than higher cholesterol group during 3 years (JAGS, 1997). (3) Neurobehavioral functions were maitained in day-care participants, while those of non-participants significantly declined after 1 year and quantitative Zarit's scale of care burden was also significantly decreased during 1 year in day-care participant group. (4) Lower grade ADL, namely disability itself in the elderly is the elderly is the risk of subsequent death independently from diseases themselves (Lancet, 1999). (5) Not only physical disabilities, but cognitive imairment measured by mini-mental State Examination is also a significant risk for subsequent death in older elderly subjects more than 75 years of age. (6) Community-based geriatric intervention may not only improve self-care independence in the elderly, but also may lower the increasing rage of medical expenses for communty-dwelling older people in Japan (JAGS, 1998).
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