Development of a novel frailty prevention method through treatment interventions for visual function decline in the elderly

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K21154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Auto 順天堂大学, 医学部, 非常勤助教 (60965250)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フレイル / 白内障 / 白内障手術 / 視覚障害 / 認知症 / 認知機能障害 / アルツハイマー病 / アイフレイル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the association between visual function decline and frailty and examined the effectiveness of ophthalmic interventions in improving frailty outcomes.
First, our prospective observational study included patients aged 75 years and older who underwent cataract surgery between 2019 and 2021. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were measured to evaluate cognitive function before and 3 months after cataract surgery. As a result, cataract surgery significantly increases cognitive test scores in older patients with MCI.
In our systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the relationship between dual sensory impairment, combining vision and hearing impairment, and the incidence of dementia. Dual sensory impairment was significantly associated with an increased incident dementia.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢社会におけるフレイル患者の増加と根本的な治療法の欠如は、社会に深刻な影響を及ぼしている。フレイルの発症メカニズムを明らかにし、その予防策を構築することは、緊急を要する課題となっている。本研究成果より、高齢者の視覚機能低下に対する治療介入は新たなフレイル予防法となる可能性を示唆した。今後さらに研究が進められ、眼科診療を通じたフレイルの新規予防法が確立されれば、高齢社会における課題を抱えるわが国にとって重要な利益がもたらされると考える。