Relationship between sleep-wake rhythm and physical function/ability holds a clue for elderly people to lead healthier lives

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24650316
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: SHINKODA KOICHI 広島大学, 医歯薬保健学研究院, 教授 (70335644)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ANAN MASAYA 広島大学, 大学院医歯薬保健学研究院, 助教 (10517080) ; SHINKODA HARUMI 三重大学, 医学部, 教授 (70187558)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HACHISUKA KENJI 産業医科大学, 医学部, 名誉教授 (00129602) ; UCHIMURA NAOHISA 久留米大学, 医学部, 教授 (10248411)
• Research Collaborator: NAMINOHIRA KOICHIRO ; IWAMOTO YOSHITAKA ; TAKEDA TAKUYA ; HASHIMOTO MASAKAZU
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 身体機能 / 睡眠 / QOL

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This was an exploratory study of how exercise influences sleep, physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life (QOL) of older people. It was observed that 15 minutes of mild exercise soon after wake-up executed by older people for a week significantly decreased sleep duration and total sleep time, and tended to decrease sleep episode block and wake episode block, while it had almost no significant effects on changes of physical and cognitive functions, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and QOL. But these results suggest the possibility that making a habit of exercising soon after wake-up, even if short in duration, could initiate smooth daily activities, more effectively regulate sleep in older people, improve physical and cognitive functions, and QOL as well.

Free Research Field

理学療法学