Verification and implementation of effective dementia prevention using trajectory on activity of daily living

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18449
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 8:Sociology and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Anme Tokie 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (20201907)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 認知症予防

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on 30 years of follow-up data covering a total of 150,000 people, this study focused on changes in life-related factors over time, developed a system to derive priorities for dementia prevention support by these characteristics, and demonstrated its effectiveness. The model for maximum effectiveness was developed by quantifying from existing data what type and timing of dementia prevention support was effective according to the characteristics of changes over time in life-related factors such as cognitive function, physical function, disease, social participation status, subjective well-being, and support status. Based on the model, we then developed a system to derive the priority level of dementia prevention support according to the characteristics of life function transition. The system was then put into practice, and the feasibility of its implementation was examined.

Free Research Field

保健福祉学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、最先端の軌跡分析技術を30年におよぶコホート研究に適用し、生活機能の推移に着目して最適な認知症予防支援の優先度を科学的な根拠に基づき明らかにし、限られた社会資源を最大限に活用する点で、学際的で斬新な着想と新たな方法論を提案したものである。
生活機能の推移をもとにした認知症予防支援プログラム開発に関しては、北欧や北米などで数年にわたる研究成果が存在するものの、プログラムを30年に及ぶ追跡データから開発し、その効果を検証したものは、国内外でまったく存在しない点で学術的および社会的意義がある。