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Background Few studies have shown age stage and sex differences in the association among dietary patterns and various health factors related to disability in older people. This study aimed to reveal the differences of characteristics, including several dietary patterns, associated with a decline in independence over 3 years in community-dwelling independent older people. Specifically, we examined data by age stage, for people between 65 and 75 years (earlier-stage) and people aged 75 years or above (later-stage), and sex. Methods We conducted a nationwide longitudinal study of 25 Japanese prefectures from 2013 to 2016; 2250 participants’ complete data (1294 men and 956 women) were analyzed. Independence was evaluated based on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scores (maximum = 12). Dietary patterns were derived from a principal component analysis of the seven food groups. Baseline IADL-related factors linked to independence 3 years later were selected. Multiple logistic regression analysis for having low independence—without a full score of IADL 3 years after baseline—was conducted, adjusted for baseline IADL scores. Finally, to compare differences among age stage and sex groups, we used Multiple-Group Path Analysis. Results Participants with a full IADL score 3 years later were classified as high independence (69.6%), and those without the full score were classified as low independence (30.4%). Only the later-stage older peoples’ proportion of low independence 3 years later was significantly higher than those at baseline. A high meat frequency pattern was associated with a significantly higher risk of decline in independence 3 years later in later-stage older women. The earlier-stage older people showed that 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 was associated with a lower risk, referring to BMI < 18.5. In the later-stage, exercising three or more times a week with enjoyment and fulfillment was associated with a significantly lower risk. Conclusions The IADL disability in older people aged 75 and over showed a rapid change. The different characteristics associated with the risk of decline in independence among age stage and sex were revealed. Targeting age stage and sex separately for community-based comprehensive supportive strategies would be necessary for a long life globally.

Life expectancy was well known to associate with lifestyle habits, socioeconomic condition, and three health-related dimensions (physical, mental and social health status). However, the causal effect relationship among these variables remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the causal relationships among health and life conditions, socioeconomic status, dietary and lifestyle habits and three health-related dimensions in elderly urban dwellers in Tokyo, Japan. After estimating a best-fit model, we discovered that health and life conditions were not determined by current dietary and lifestyle habits, which many studies showed. However, the conditions were more directly affected by three health-related dimensions three years earlier, and indirectly affected by educational attainment and previous annual income as well. The current model suggests that it might be of great importance for elderly individuals to emphasize the maintenance of psychological well being, physical activity, social communication and participation, as well as income, rather than focusing on improvements in diet and health-related lifestyles per se.

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental and social well being. This study was conducted to explore chronological relationships between physical, mental and social factors. Among urban-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over, data were collected via a self-report questionnaire in 2001 and 2004. The three health-related latent factors were identified with nine measurement variables by an exploratory factor analysis. A structural equation modeling method was used to analyze underlying relationships among the three factors with a cross-lagged model and a synchronous model. A total of 7,683 individuals aged between 65 and 84 years were analyzed. The three-year prior and current physical health significantly affected social health as well as mental health, and this effect appeared to be stronger in males compared to females. Maintenance of physical health may be crucial to support mental and social health among elderly individuals

The purpose of this study was to clarify the direct and indirect effects of cognitive factors economic satisfaction: ES, mental and emotional well-being: MEWB and dietary diversity DD on self-rated health SH of men and women separately among healthy elderly aged years living in A municipality in Okinawa. A total of , respondents excluding long-term care needs participants were examined at the baseline. DD was characterized by a combination of dishes, i.e. staple, main dishes, sub-dishes, milk and dairy product, and fruits. When the fit of hypothetical models was evaluated using covariance structure analysis, models showing indirect effects mediated by MEWB and by DD were statistically more acceptable CFI . , NFI . , RMSEA . , in comparison with the direct effects of ES on SH in models for both men and women. When a more comprehensive examination was performed by integration of direct with indirect effects, the effect of MEWB on SH was larger in women, and that of ES was larger in men. The present findings suggest that creating support for MEWB based on income support might enhance the SH of healthy elderly people through improvement of DD.