2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Effects and Molecular Mechanisms of WAON Therapy on Cognitive Function and Muscle Strength Improvement in Elderly Heart Failure Patients

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	19K07895
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
Research Institution	Dokkyo Medical University
Principal Investigator	Toyoda Shigeru 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80332998)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	鄭忠和獨協医科大学, 医学部, 特任教授 (10163891) 小尾正太郎獨協医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10734452) 井上晃男獨協医科大学, 医学部, 特任教授 (20168454) 安田智洋聖隷クリストファー大学, 看護学部, 教授 (20549604) 中島敏明獨協医科大学, 医学部, 特任教授 (50227790) 有川拓男獨協医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90285817) 狩野豊電気通信大学, 大学院情報理工学研究科, 教授 (90293133)
Project Period (FY)	2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Keywords	和温療法 / 高齢心不全 / 認知機能 / フレイル / 温熱刺激
Outline of Final Research Achievements	The effects of a WAON therapy on elderly patients with heart failure were examined. The results showed improvement in cognitive function. In terms of muscle strength and physical function, right and left knee extension muscle strength and SPPB were significantly increased and improved, and in SF36, vitality, daily role function (mental), and mental aspect were significantly improved. In the basic study, the effects of thermal stimulation on skeletal muscle were examined using cultured mouse skeletal myoblasts. Myh1, 2, and 4, which are markers of fast-twitch muscle, and Myh7, 12, and l3, which are markers of slow-twitch muscle, were all increased. In addition, thermal stimulation increased muscle weight and myofiber diameter in rats. These results indicate that the use of WAON therapy in elderly heart failure patients is effective in improving cognitive function and maintaining muscle strength, from both clinical and basic perspectives.
Free Research Field	循環器内科学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	我が国は高齢化により慢性心不全患者・認知症患者が増加している。高齢心不全患者は安静、環境変化等により認知症状・筋力低下が容易に出現しやすい。そして認知障害・筋力低下が心不全の予後を悪化させ悪循環となっている。本研究結果より、高齢心不全患者に対し和温療法を入院早期から施行することで認知症悪化予防効果、筋力維持効果が期待でき、悪循環を断ち切ることが期待される。