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Geographic distribution of japanese patients with dementia and their lifestyles
No full textBackground: Japan’s centenarian population reached 99,763 in 2025 and is projected to reach 160,000 by 2040. This rapid increase is reportedly
strongly correlated with a rise in dementia. To investigate lifestyles correlated with dementia, we examined the regional distribution of patients with
dementia, centenarians, and senior citizens (≤ 65 years) by prefecture.
Methods: We used regional data of life style from TodoRan data base which include data of 47 prefectures in Japan. We then compared the correlation
coefficient of each life style item with the distribution of dementia patients in each prefecture.
Results: We identified eight items that showed a positive correlation with dementia and 10 items that showed a negative correlation with dementia.
Positively correlated items were: the number of athletic fields (0.576), the number of nursery schools (0.560), the number of bowling alleys (0.543), the
number of single-parent households (0.515), the ratio of older wives (0.494), the number of churches (0.482), the number of sumo arenas (0.432), and the ratio of local pride in one’s hometown (0.420). Conversely, negatively correlated items were: visitors to amusement parks, zoos, and aquariums (-0.797), domestic travelers (-0.743), sports participants (-0.699), day-trip travelers (-0.697), black tea consumption (-0.687), book reading population (-0.685), age at first marriage for men (-0.542), coffee shop spending (-0.541), number of library users (-0.483), and age at first marriage for women (-0.436). These factors were examined regarding the regional distribution of patients with dementia.
Conclusion: A decrease in patients with dementia may be associated with visits to amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, travelling domestically, taking day trips, engaging in sports, reading, and using the library.Original Articlearticl
Relationship between changes in olfactory function and cognitive decline of elderly people -developing olfactory function test for discriminating mild cognitive impairment-
No full textGraduate School of Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation UniversityMasterBackground: Differences between age-related and dementia-related olfactory function decline require clarification. Olfactory tests are sometimes used to screen for dementia, but it is unclear whether they can be used to screen for mild cognitive impairment.
Methods: We therefore examined the use of a general olfactory test (Open Essence test, Fujifilm Wako, Osaka, Japan) and an olfaction test developed to screen for dementia (Nintest, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) for their characteristics and suitability. We sought to elucidate the relationship between cognitive decline and olfactory decline in 110 elderly community-dwelling volunteers. We administered the olfactory function tests and questionnaires on subjective decline in olfactory function and cognitive function.
Results: Just 10% of the patients were aware of olfactory functional decline. The Open Essence test results were widely distributed between 0/12 and 12/12 points, with scores centered around 8/12 and 9/12, and the percentage of correct responses for each odor stimulus was distributed between 25-52%. The odor stimulus with the lowest percentage of correct responses was fried garlic (25%). Meanwhile, 32% of subjects scored a perfect 10/10 in the Nintest, with the remaining 68% of scores evenly distributed between 0/10 and 9/10. The correct response rate for the six odor stimuli was 61-72%, with little difference in correct response rates among the stimuli.
Discussion: When a score of 100 was normal and ≤89 was mild cognitive impairment with ACE-III test, neither Open Essense nor Nintest did not have sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be used as a screening test for mild cognitive impairment. However, the results suggested that the fried garlic odor stimulus in the Open Essence test could be used in addition to the six odor stimuli in the Nintest as a test for screening for mild cognitive impairment. Olfactory dysfunction can be recognized prior to the onset of dementia and specific odor stimuli may reflect the pathology of dementia.articl
The Effects of an Online Occupational Therapy Consultation for Staff in After-School Childcare Program: Controlled Clinical Trial
No full textBackground and Purpose: The number of children with disabilities in Japan that attend after-school childcare programs has been increasing, and support staff often face difficulties in providing appropriate care. This study aims to clarify the effects of occupational therapy consultation for the staff involved the care of children with common developmental disorders within
after-school childcare program.
Methods: The cases of thirty children from five after-school care facilities were considered in this study. In an intervention group, occupational therapists conducted three online consultation sessions with the support staff who worked with the children. A control group received no intervention during the study period.
Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in the ‘conduct problems’ and ‘prosocial behavior’ subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Text analysis of the consultation records identified eight categories of challenges reported by staff or observed in children: ‘verbal and physical aggression’, ‘difficulty with organizing’, ‘frequent forgetfulness’, ‘inability to stay still’, ‘difficulty
with transitions and changes’, ‘difficulty playing with others’, ‘difficulty keeping up with learning’, and ‘problems related to the human environment’. Conclusion: Online consultations provided by an occupational therapist were apparently effective in improving behavioral problems among children with developmental disabilities attending after-school childcare programs. These findings suggest that occupational therapists can play a meaningful role in promoting inclusive after-school environments for children with development
disorders.Original Articlearticl
History, current status, and future potential of horticultural therapy
No full textHorticultural therapy is a complementary and alternative medicine that utilizes plants and plant-rich environments to promote physical and mental health. Since ancient times, people have always had some degree of interaction with nature. The non-medicinal effects of nature and plants have been systematically researched, primarily in Europe and America, resulting in their use as therapeutic tools. In Japan, horticultural therapy was introduced from overseas in the 1990s, and there is a quiet history of utilizing horticulture as part of occupational therapy. If the evidence-based practices of horticultural therapy from other countries can be integrated with the perspective of Japanese occupational therapy, we suggest there will be further development of horticultural therapy in Japan. We review the definitions, history, global practices, methodology and effects, limitations, and future prospects of horticultural therapy.Review Articlearticl
