BackgroundThere are many reports that dynapenia, sarcopenia and frailty each have associations with bodily function or with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). However, studies that compare all three conditions and their effects on IADL are lacking. The purpose of this study is to examine associations of sarcopenia, frailty, and dynapenia with IADL.MethodsParticipants included 123 community-dwelling older adults (31 men, 92 women,) aged 65 years or older (75.0 ± 5.3 years) who were independent in IADL. In terms of physical function, measurements were performed for muscle mass, grip strength, walking speed, isometric knee extension strength, and unipedal standing. A questionnaire survey was carried out, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was administered, and participants were asked about sense of fatigue and amount of activity.ResultsDynapenia was associated with classifications of both frailty and sarcopenia. In addition, sarcopenia had a sensitivity and specificity for dynapenia of 33 and 89%, respectively. Frailty had a sensitivity and specificity for dynapenia of 17 and 98%, respectively. Dynapenia was a significant independent related factor for the TMIG-IC (β = −0.21, P < 0.05).ConclusionsDynapenia, more than sarcopenia or frailty, was related to difficulties with IADL; therefore, assessment of dynapenia should be given greater emphasis in evaluating the physical functioning of older adults.

ObjectiveChronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of several chronic diseases. Existing dietary inflammatory indexes require complicated calculations, which are difficult to use in clinical practice. We developed a new and simple index, based solely on the frequency of consumption of only 16 foods, to capture the inflammatory potential of diet.MethodsThe new index, an empirical dietary inflammatory index (eDII), is based on 8 pro-inflammatory and 8 anti-inflammatory components. First, in a validation study, 168 community-dwelling persons were invited to participate and an inflammatory aging disease (IAD) score of each participant was calculated by total number of IADs. Second, in the nutritional epidemiologic study, we calculated the eDII for 1464 participants and compared the eDII with healthy diet quality scores.ResultsIn a validation study, when subjects were classified by eDII tertile, a higher eDII was significantly associated with a higher IAD score. In the nutritional epidemiologic study, a higher eDII was inversely associated with the Mediterranean diet score, the World Health Organization's healthy diet indicator, and the American Heart Association's recommended healthy diet score.ConclusionsThe eDII is an easy and valid instrument to assess the inflammatory potential of dietary factors. This index is easy to use and does not require detailed estimations of nutrient intake.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of participants based on the differences in participation frequency in the selfdetermined participation type care prevention program.Methods: This study design was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 114 community-dwelling older adults aged 73.0 on median who were registered in the self-determined participation type care prevention program. Participants can freely decide the date of participation in this program. The exercise was performed depending on the ability of the participants. We evaluated program participation status, a higher-level functional capacity, grip strength, and walking speed. The higher-level functional capacity was evaluated using the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC). As an analysis, we first classified the frequency of participation into three groups: "less than once a week," "1-2 times a week," and "more than 3 times a week", and compared the outcomes. Secondly, we investigated the relationship between participation frequency and four categories of the JST-IC.Results: Participants in the frequency of participation in "less than once a week," "1-2 times a week," and "more than 3 times a week" were 26, 76, and 12, respectively. The median scores of JST-IC were 13.0. There was no significant difference in JST-IC total, subscale scores and physical functions among the three groups based on the differences in participation frequency. Conclusion:In the population with high higher-level functional capacity, there was no significant difference in higher-level functional capacity and physical function based on the frequency of participation in the self-determined participation type care prevention program. It was suggested that a longitudinal survey was necessary after unifying the implementation period of the participants.

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History:Objectives: Little is known regarding the associations between Borg's rating of perceived exertion (RPE), cardiopulmonary responses, and carrying bags while level walking. We investigated the changes in RPE and cardiopulmonary responses, including energy cost (EC), oxygen consumption (VdotO₂), and heart rate (HR), when walking with a bag.Methods: This randomized crossover study included 10 healthy adults (aged 21-22 years). Four days of experiments were performed at intervals of 1-2 weeks. The participants walked on a level treadmill while carrying a bag with a strap weighting 5 kg, placed diagonally on their shoulders (DS), vertically on their shoulders (VS), vertically in one hand (VH), and on their backs using both shoulders (BS) for 20 min. Walking speed was stable among all experiments, and was set to the participants' preferred speed.Results: No significant differences between bag carrying methods regarding EC, VdotO₂, and %HRreserve (based on HR) were observed, whereas RPE respiratory (RPE-resp) and RPE leg muscle (RPE-leg) scores varied based on bag carrying method used. RPE-resp score was significantly lower for DS and BS than VH (both p < 0.0083); however, no significant difference was observed when each RPE-leg score was compared. Conclusions:We found that RPE-resp score varied, whereas no changes in EC, VdotO₂, and HR were observed in healthy adults while walking with different bag carrying methods. Additionally, of all bag carrying methods assessed, the highest RPE-resp score was observed when individuals carried a bag with one-hand at their side.

The purpose of this study was to verify the immediate effect of a Parkinson Dance class (PD dance), which is mainly performed in a sitting position, on the physical function of patients with Parkinson's disease.[Participants and Methods] The participants were 24 Parkinson's disease patients who participated in the PD dance. Changes in the Timed up & Go test (TUG) and walking speed pre-and post-PD dance were compared. [Results] The TUG time and walking speed significantly decreased after PD dance. Furthermore, when the walking speed was divided into two groups and the changes in walking speed were compared, a significant increase in walking speed was observed only in the low-speed walking group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the balance function of Parkinson's disease patients can be improved by a sitting-based dance program, but its effect on walking speed is limited.

岩村 真樹 1,2) 大塩 祐子 2) 松山 卓也 2) 伊藤 涼 2) 辻 理絵 2) 石井 博 2) 杉野 正一 2) ABSTRACT: [Purpose] Nutritional status and sarcopenia were surveyed to verify relationships between these items and activities of daily living (ADL) among patients who were admitted to a psychiatric ward and prescribed physiotherapy. [Participants and Methods] The muscle mass of 43 patients was estimated using the formula developed by Sanada et al., and sarcopenia was judged using the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF). Patients with a decreased/maintained or improved Barthel Index (BI) were compared before and after physiotherapy.[Results] Among the patients, 77% and 42% had malnutrition and sarcopenia, respectively. Albumin and MNA-SF significantly differed between patients with a decreased/maintained BI and an improved BI.[Conclusion] Rates of malnutrition were high among the patients admitted to a psychiatric ward, and nutritional status appeared to be associated with BI improvement during physical therapy intervention.