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IntroductionExercise is a crucial method for preventing geriatric depression. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between exercise habits in adolescence and old age and geriatric depressive symptoms.MethodsThis study used baseline data from the Bunkyo Health Study, a prospective observational cohort study investigating the preventive effects of physical activity on causative diseases requiring long-term care. This analysis included 1,629 older adults (687 men and 942 women) aged 65–84 years who participated in the Bunkyo Health Study. Participants were divided into four groups according to their exercise habits in adolescence and old age: never exercised (none-none; NN), exercised only in old age (none-active; NA), exercised only in adolescence (active-none; AN), and exercised in adolescence and old age (active-active; AA). Geriatric depressive symptoms were defined as the short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥ 5, including depression tendency. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals in each group for the prevalence of geriatric depressive symptoms compared with the NN group.ResultsThe ORs for geriatric depressive symptoms were notably lower in the AN, NA, and AA groups than in the NN group in both older men and older women.ConclusionThese results indicate that older adults with exercise habits in adolescence and/or in old age exhibit a lower prevalence of geriatric depressive symptoms.

BackgroundExercise in adolescence and old age improves cognitive function in older adults, but the combined effect of exercise habits in both periods is controversial. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between exercise habits in adolescence and old age and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to compare regional brain volumes and blood biochemical markers associated with cognitive function in older adults.MethodsBaseline data of 1615 participants aged 65–84 years from the Bunkyo Health Study were analyzed. MCI was diagnosed using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants were divided into four groups based on their exercise habits in adolescence (13–18 years) and old age: no exercise in either period (None-None), exercise in adolescence only (Active-None), exercise in old age only (None-Active), and exercise in both periods (Active-Active). Logistic regression models estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of MCI prevalence. Regional brain volumes, such as the prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, parietal cortex, and hippocampus, and blood biochemical markers, such as BDNF, IGF-1, and homocysteine, were compared between groups.ResultsThe OR for MCI was significantly lower in the Active-Active group than in the None-None group (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41–0.94). However, there were no significant differences in regional brain volumes and blood biochemical markers between the Active-Active and None-None groups.ConclusionsOlder adults with exercise habits in both adolescence and old age have a lower risk of MCI. However, specific regional brain volumes and biochemical markers may not be associated with differences in cognitive function in older adults.

Abstract Background The number of football teams in senior categories has increased. As outdoor sports entail players being exposed to sunlight, playing football may contribute to maintaining vitamin D stores and body mineral density while preventing osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine the bone mineral density and vitamin D levels in middle-aged premenopausal female football players. Methods Participants were premenopausal females in their 40s. We evaluated bone mineral density of the second to the fourth lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels, which is an indicator of vitamin D stores, and body composition. In addition, we administered a questionnaire survey on exercise habits and lifestyle. Ninety-two participants were categorised into three groups: the football group (n = 27), volleyball group (n = 40), and non-exercise group (n = 25). Results Bone mineral density was higher in the football and volleyball groups than in the non-exercise group (P

Abstract Background With the aging of the population worldwide, extending healthy life expectancy is an urgent issue. Muscle mass has been reported to be associated with physical independence and longevity. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of food intake in urban community-dwelling older adults with low muscle mass. Methods This cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Bunkyo Health Study, which included 1618 urban community-dwelling older adults aged 65–84 years. All participants underwent measurement of body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis and evaluation of nutrient and food intake using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Participants were stratified by sex and divided into robust or low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) groups according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria to compare differences in nutrient and food intake. Results The mean age and body mass index were 73.1 ± 5.4 years and 22.6 ± 3.1 kg/m2, respectively. The prevalence of low SMI was 31.1% in men and 43.3% in women. In men, all food intake, including total energy intake, was similar between the low SMI group and the robust group. In women, the low SMI group had less total energy intake, and consumed lower amounts of energy-producing nutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates), but there were only small differences in the intake of specific foods. Conclusions There were sex differences in food intake characteristics between urban community-dwelling older adults with low SMI and those who were robust. Advising women to increase their energy intake may be important in preventing muscle loss, and further research is needed in men.

Abstract Sarcopenia is a common skeletal muscle disease in older people. Lower limb muscle strength is a good predictive value for sarcopenia; however, little is known about its genetic components. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for knee extension strength in a total of 3452 Japanese aged 60 years or older from two independent cohorts. We identified a significant locus, rs10749438 which is an intronic variant in TACC2 (transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing 2) (P = 4.2 × 10−8). TACC2, encoding a cytoskeleton-related protein, is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, and is reported as a target of myotonic dystrophy 1-associated splicing alterations. These suggest that changes in TACC2 expression are associated with variations in muscle strength in older people. The association was consistently observed in young and middle-aged subjects. Our findings would shed light on genetic components of lower limb muscle strength and indicate TACC2 as a potential therapeutic target for sarcopenia.

ObjectiveThe proportion of young Japanese women who are underweight is exceptionally high. We previously showed that the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was high in underweight young Japanese women, and that IGT was characterized by high free fatty acid levels and adipose tissue insulin resistance (ATIR). As the next step, this study aimed to explore factors associated with elevated ATIR in this population.ParticipantsNinety-eight young, healthy, underweight women participated in this study.DesignTo investigate the relationship between ATIR and metabolic parameters, participants were divided into three groups (Low, Medium, and High) according to ATIR level. Body composition examination, oral glucose tolerance testing, and blood biochemical analysis were performed; Adipo-IR and the Matsuda index were used as indices of ATIR and systemic insulin sensitivity, respectively.ResultsParticipants in the High ATIR group had the highest prevalence of IGT (25%), and significantly higher body fat percentage, whole-body insulin resistance, and levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) than the other two groups. They were also significantly younger and had higher systolic blood pressure than the Low ATIR group. Multiple regression analysis showed that DHEA-S, which is known to enhance lipolysis in adipose tissue, was an independent correlate of ATIR.ConclusionsUnderweight Japanese women with high ATIR had impaired metabolism, a higher prevalence of IGT, higher systemic insulin resistance, and higher systolic blood pressure. DHEA-S was a determinant of high ATIR levels.

ObjectiveQuantifying and managing the matches and training loads of players is important for injury prevention. As rugby union is a full-contact sport and frequent contact injuries occur, it might also be important to quantify and manage players’ contact loads. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between contact load and injury incidence in elite rugby union players.MethodsForty-eight elite rugby union players (27.0 ± 3.5 years) in Japan were monitored during one season (8 months). The contact load, an index of training load, was evaluated as collision count and collision load measured using a global positioning system device, and then calculated using the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) based on the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). The association between the EWMA-ACWR of contact load and injury incidence was analyzed using generalized estimating equations.ResultsOf the 58 injuries during one season, 70.7% were contact injuries. Collision counts and collision load calculated by EWMA-ACWR were associated with the risk of injury (p

Background: Metabolic syndrome involves health problems influenced by aging and genetics. The glucokinase regulatory protein ( GCKR ) rs1260326 polymorphism (Leu446) is associated with metabolic traits. This study explores the impact of the GCKR rs1260326 polymorphism on metabolic traits in older Japanese with focusing on sex-specific differences. Methods: This cross-sectional study from the Bunkyo Health Study in Tokyo, Japan, examined 883 participants aged 65–84 years. Participants were excluded with diabetes, or on drug treatment for diabetes or dyslipidemia. The GCKR P446L polymorphism was analyzed and compared their characteristics of physical activity, dietary intake, body composition, and metabolic parameters. Results: Study participants with GCKR rs1260326 genotypes (C/C 20.7%, C/T 47.6%, T/T 31.7%) had a median age of 72 years, and 60.4% were women. Men with the T/T genotype, as compared to the C/C genotype, had a lower body weight, body mass index (BMI), and skeletal mass index. This genotype also associated with lower fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and higher Matsuda index, but not after adjustment for age, BMI, and physical activity. In contrast, women with the T/T genotype, compared to the C/C genotype, showed higher C-reactive protein, fibroblast growth factor 21, and Matsuda index. They also had lower fasting insulin, insulin area under the curve, and HOMA-IR; with these associations being independent of age, BMI, and physical activity. Conclusion: The GCKR rs1260326 genotype-affected metabolic traits differentially by sex in older Japanese. This highlights the need to consider sex differences in GCKR -related metabolic outcomes.

Abstract We reported that the full-length width of medial tibial osteophytes comprising cartilage and bone parts correlates with medial meniscus extrusion (MME) in early-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, no data exist on the prevalence of MME and its relationship with osteophytes in the elderly population. 1191 elderly individuals (females 57%; 72.9 years old on average) in the Bunkyo Health Study underwent standing plain radiograph and proton density-weighted MRI on knee joints. MRI-detected OA changes were evaluated according to the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score. A new method of assessing the cartilage and bone parts of osteophytes was developed using pseudo-coloring images of proton density-weighted fat-suppressed MRI. Most subjects showed Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 or 2 radiographic medial knee OA (88.1%), MME (98.7%, 3.90 ± 2.01 mm), and medial tibial osteophytes (99.3%, 3.27 ± 1.50 mm). Regarding OA changes, MME was closely associated with the full-length width of medial tibial osteophytes (β = 1.114; 95% CI 1.069–1.159; p

Background and purposeGlymphatic system in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but not in the prodrome, prediabetes (Pre-DM) was investigated using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS). Association between glymphatic system and insulin resistance of prominent characteristic in T2DM and Pre-DM between is yet elucidated. Therefore, this study delves into the interstitial fluid dynamics using the DTI-ALPS in both Pre-DM and T2DM and association with insulin resistance.Materials and methodsIn our cross-sectional study, we assessed 70 elderly individuals from the Bunkyo Health Study, which included 22 with Pre-DM, 18 with T2DM, and 33 healthy controls with normal glucose metabolism (NGM). We utilized the general linear model (GLM) to evaluate the ALPS index based on DTI-ALPS across these groups, considering variables like sex, age, intracranial volume, years of education, anamnesis of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and the total Fazekas scale. Furthermore, we have explored the relationship between the ALPS index and insulin resistance, as measured by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) using GLM and the same set of covariates.ResultsIn the T2DM group, the ALPS index demonstrated a reduction compared with the NGM group [family-wise error (FWE)-corrected p < 0.001; Cohen's d = −1.32]. Similarly, the Pre-DM group had a lower ALPS index than the NGM group (FWE-corrected p < 0.001; Cohen's d = −1.04). However, there was no significant disparity between the T2DM and Pre-DM groups (FWE-corrected p = 1.00; Cohen's d = −0.63). A negative correlation was observed between the ALPS index and HOMA-IR in the combined T2DM and Pre-DM groups (partial correlation coefficient r = −0.35, p < 0.005).ConclusionThe ALPS index significantly decreased in both the pre-DM and T2DM groups and showed a correlated with insulin resistance. This indicated that changes in interstitial fluid dynamics are associated with insulin resistance.

Abstract Aims For long‐term management of diabetes, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus require a high level of treatment adherence, which is associated with treatment satisfaction and their quality of life (QOL). To achieve it, patient education about diabetes self‐management is essential. We routinely conduct a 7 day inpatient diabetes education program and administer the diabetes treatment‐related (DTR)‐QOL questionnaire to all participants, both before admission and at discharge. Here, we investigated whether our program improves QOL and post‐discharge glycemic control. Materials and Methods This retrospective study utilized data from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in our program between July 2017 and March 2020 and who had been treated in our outpatient department for more than 1 year. We evaluated the relationship between at admission and at discharge diabetes treatment‐related quality of life scores and glycemic control after discharge. Results Data from 140 patients were analyzed in this study, which showed a significant improvement in the total, ‘Anxiety and dissatisfaction with treatment’, and ‘Satisfaction‐with‐treatment’ scores. A significant improvement was evident in HbA1c at 12 months after discharge. Multiple regression analysis showed that HbA1c after 12 months was independently associated with gender, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c at admission. Conclusions Our program effectively improves quality of life and post‐discharge glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is particularly effective in patients of the male gender, with a shorter duration of diabetes mellitus and higher HbA1c at admission.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia, defined as an age‐associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a major risk factor for requiring long‐term care. Because physical activity in adolescence and older age enhances peak muscle function in youth and prevents muscle function decline in older age, older adults with exercise habits during both periods may be at a lower risk for sarcopenia. We investigated the relationship between exercise habits in adolescence and older age and sarcopenia and its components in community‐dwelling older Japanese adults. Methods This study included 1607 community‐dwelling individuals (aged 65–84, medians 73 years, 679 men and 928 women) with complete health examinations, including measurements of skeletal muscle index, handgrip strength and gait speed, who were enrolled in the Bunkyo Health Study. We divided the participants into four groups according to exercise habits in adolescence and older age: no exercise in either period (none‐none; NN), exercise only in adolescence (active‐none; AN), exercise only in older age (none‐active; NA) and exercise in both periods (active‐active; AA). Multivariate‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in each group for the prevalence of sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass and low muscle performance, as compared with the NN group. Low muscle performance was defined as low muscle strength and/or low gait speed. Results The total prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.6% (45/679) in men and 1.7% (16/928) in women, the total prevalence of low muscle mass was 14.3% (97/679) in men and 5.2% (48/928) in women, and the total prevalence of low muscle performance was 25.6% (174/679) in men and 19.6% (182/928) in women. In men, the ORs (95% CIs) for sarcopenia, low muscle mass and low muscle performance were significantly lower in the AA group (sarcopenia: 0.29 [0.09–0.95], P = 0.041; low muscle mass: 0.21 [0.09–0.52], P = 0.001; and low muscle performance: 0.52 [0.28–0.97], P = 0.038). In women, the OR (95% CI) for low muscle performance was significantly lower in the AA group than in the other groups (0.48 [0.27–0.84], P = 0.010), whereas none of the ORs for sarcopenia and low muscle mass were significant. Conclusions Older men with exercise habits in both adolescence and older age were at a lower risk of sarcopenia, low muscle mass and low muscle performance, whereas older women with exercise habits at both time periods were at a lower risk of low muscle performance.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is a major cause of disability in the elderly. Although type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for increased sarcopenia, the relationship between prediabetes and sarcopenia has not been elucidated. We aimed to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and prediabetes. Methods The design of this study is a cross‐sectional study. We evaluated glucose metabolism using the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test and glycated haemoglobin, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, and hand grip strength in 1629 older adults living in an urban area of Tokyo, Japan. We investigated the frequency of sarcopenia in participants with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes and diabetes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between glucose tolerance and the prevalence of sarcopenia. Results The mean age of participants was 73.1 ± 5.4 years. In men, 44.3% had NGT, 26.6% had prediabetes, and 29.1% had diabetes. In women, the distribution was 56.1%, 28.8% and 15.2%. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 12.7% in men and 11.9% in women. Logistic regression revealed that prediabetes and diabetes are independent risk factors for sarcopenia in men (prediabetes, odds ratio [OR] = 2.081 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.031–4.199]; diabetes, OR = 2.614 [95% CI: 1.362–5.018]) and diabetes, but not prediabetes, is an independent risk factor for sarcopenia in women (prediabetes, OR = 1.036 [95% CI: 0.611–1.757]; diabetes, OR = 2.099 [95% CI: 1.146–3.844]). In both sexes, higher age (men, OR = 1.086 [95% CI: 1.028–1.146]; women, OR = 1.195 [95% CI: 1.142–1.251]), higher body fat percentage (men, OR = 1.346 [95% CI: 1.240–1.461]; women, OR = 1.218 [95% CI: 1.138–1.303]) and lower body mass index (men, OR = 0.371 [95% CI: 0.299–0.461]; women, OR = 0.498 [95% CI: 0.419–0.593]) were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. Conclusions Although we confirmed that diabetes mellitus is associated with sarcopenia in both sexes, prediabetes is associated with sarcopenia in men, but not in women.

Introduction: Exercise is beneficial for increasing areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adolescence and maintaining it in old age. Moreover, high-impact sports are more effective than low-impact sports in increasing aBMD. This study aimed to determine the types of adolescent sports played in school-based sports clubs associated with aBMD in old age.Methods: In total, 1,596 older adults (681 men and 915 women, age: 65–84 years) living in an urban area of Japan were evaluated for the femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between adolescent sports played in sports clubs and aBMD in old age was analyzed using multiple regression analysis, with femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD as dependent variables, and sports type and participant characteristics such as age, body weight, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, as independent variables.Results: For the femoral neck, basketball was associated with aBMD in older men (β = 0.079, p < 0.05) and women (β = 0.08, p < 0.01), whereas current body weight and 25(OH)D level were associated with aBMD in both sexes. For the lumbar spine, volleyball (β = 0.08, p < 0.01) and swimming (β = 0.06, p < 0.05) was significantly associated with lumbar spine aBMD, whereas current body weight, 25(OH)D, and diabetes mellitus were associated with aBMD in older women.Conclusion: Both men and women who played basketball in adolescence had higher femoral neck aBMD in old age. Moreover, women who played volleyball in adolescence had higher lumbar spine aBMD in old age.

Background: In knee osteoarthritis (OA), medial meniscus extrudes both medially and anteriorly. We reported that full-length width of medial tibial osteophyte, which comprises cartilage and bone parts, is directly associated with medial meniscus extrusion in early-stage knee OA and hypothesized that anterior tibial osteophyte (ATO) is also associated with anterior meniscus extrusion (AME). Thus, we aimed to examine their prevalence and relationship. Methods: Elderly subjects (638 females and 507 males; average 72.9 years old) in the Bunkyo Health Study cohort were enrolled. MRI-detected OA changes were evaluated according to the Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score. ATO was evaluated using the method which can assess both cartilage and bone parts of osteophyte by pseudo-coloring images of proton density-weighted fat-suppressed MRI. Results: Most subjects showed the Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1/2 of the medial knee OA (88.1%), AME (94.3%, 3.7 ​± ​2.2 ​mm), and ATO (99.6%, 4.2 ​± ​1.5 ​mm). Among the OA changes, AME was most closely associated with full-length width of ATO (multivariable β ​= ​0.877, p ​

BackgroundIron deficiency and underweight are common nutritional problems among young Japanese women, many of whom show unhealthy dietary patterns owing to a desire for thinness. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between iron status, nutritional status, and dietary intake among young Japanese women with underweight to identify dietary risk factors for iron deficiency.MethodsOf the 159 young women (18–29 years of age) enrolled, 77 underweight and 37 normal-weight women were included in the study. They were further categorized into four groups based on quartiles of hemoglobin levels among all participants. Dietary nutrient intake was ascertained using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Blood level of hemoglobin and nutritional biomarkers such as total protein, albumin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and essential amino acids were measured.ResultsIn underweight, the multiple comparison test showed that dietary intakes of fat, saturated fatty acid, and monosaturated fatty acid were significantly higher and carbohydrate intake was significantly lower in the group with the lowest hemoglobin level, whereas intakes of iron were the same across groups. Multivariate regression coefficients suggested that replacing fat with protein or carbohydrates increased hemoglobin levels under isocaloric conditions. Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between hemoglobin levels and nutritional biomarkers.ConclusionDietary iron intake did not change across different hemoglobin groups among Japanese underweight women. However, our results suggested that an imbalanced dietary macronutrient induces anabolic status and hemoglobin synthesis deterioration among them. Especially, a higher fat intake may be a risk factor for lower hemoglobin.

Objective: The glymphatic system is a glial-based perivascular network that promotes brain metabolic waste clearance. Reduced glymphatic flow has been observed in rat models of type 2 diabetes and hypertension, indicating the role of vascular risk factors in the glymphatic system. However, little is known about how vascular risk factors affect the human glymphatic system. The present study aims to assess the relationships between metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of vascular risk factors, and the glymphatic system function using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measures of water diffusivity in the glymphatic compartments, including the brain interstitial space and perivascular spaces around the deep medullary vein. We hypothesized that vascular risk factors are associated with glymphatic dysfunction, leading to cognitive impairment in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 61 older adults (age range, 65–82 years) who had participated in the Bunkyo Health Study, including 15 healthy controls (mean age, 70.87 ± 4.90 years) and 46 individuals with MetS (mean age, 71.76 ± 4.61 years). Fractional volume of extracellular-free water (FW) and an index of diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) were used as indirect indicators of water diffusivity in the interstitial extracellular and perivenous spaces of white matter, respectively. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, years of education, total Fazekas scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score, and intracranial volume (ICV), a significantly (P = 0.030; Cohen's d = 1.01) higher FW was observed in individuals with MetS than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, individuals with MetS had a significantly (P = 0.031; Cohen's d = 0.86) lower ALPS index than the healthy controls, with age, sex, years of education, total Fazekas scale, PSQI score, ICV, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity included as confounding factors. Higher FW was significantly associated with lower ALPS index (r = −0.37; P = 0.004). Multiple linear regression (MLR) with backward elimination analyses showed that higher diastolic blood pressure (BP; standardized β = 0.33, P = 0.005) was independently associated with higher FW, whereas higher fasting plasma glucose levels (standardized β = −0.63, P = 0.002) or higher Brinkman index of cigarette consumption cumulative amount (standardized β = −0.27, P = 0.022) were associated with lower ALPS index. The lower ALPS index (standardized β, 0.28; P = 0.040) was associated with poorer global cognitive performance, which was determined using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA-J) scores. Finally, partial correlation analyses showed a significant correlation between higher FW and lower MOCA-J scores (r = −0.35; P = 0.025) and between higher FW and higher diastolic BP (r = 0.32, P = 0.044). Conclusion: The present study shows the changes in diffusion MRI-based measures reflected by the higher FW and lower ALPS index in older adults with MetS, possibly due to the adverse effect of vascular risk factors on the glymphatic system. Our findings also indicate the associations between the diffusion MRI-based measures and elevated diastolic BP, hyperglycemia, smoking habit, and poorer cognitive performance. However, owing to the limitations of this study, the results should be cautiously interpreted.

Background and purposeExposure to contact sports in youth causes brain health problems later in life. For instance, the repetitive head impacts in contact sports might contribute to glymphatic clearance impairment and cognitive decline. This study aimed to assess the effect of contact sports participation in youth on glymphatic function in old age and the relationship between glymphatic function and cognitive status using the analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS) index.Materials and methodsA total of 52 Japanese older male subjects were included in the study, including 12 who played heavy-contact sports (mean age, 71.2 years), 15 who played semicontact sports (mean age, 73.1 years), and 25 who played noncontact sports (mean age, 71.3 years) in their youth. All brain diffusion-weighted images (DWIs) of the subjects were acquired using a 3T MRI scanner. The ALPS indices were calculated using a validated semiautomated pipeline. The ALPS indices from the left and right hemispheres were compared between groups using a general linear model, including age and years of education. Furthermore, partial Spearman's rank correlation tests were performed to assess the correlation between the ALPS indices and cognitive scores (Mini-Mental State Examination and the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA-J]) after adjusting for age years of education and HbA1c.ResultsThe left ALPS index was significantly lower in the heavy-contact and semicontact groups than that in the noncontact group. Although no significant differences were observed in the left ALPS index between the heavy-contact and semicontact groups and in the right ALPS index among groups, a trend toward lower was found in the right ALPS index in individuals with semicontact and heavy-contact compared to the noncontact group. Both sides' ALPS indices were significantly positively correlated with the MoCA-J scores.ConclusionThe findings indicated the potential adverse effect of contact sports experience in youth on the glymphatic system function in old age associated with cognitive decline.

Abstract Insulin resistance and muscle weakness are risk factors for silent lacunar infarcts (SLI), but it is unclear whether they are still independent risk factors when adjusted for each other. In addition, the effect of their combination on SLI is completely unknown. We evaluated SLI, insulin sensitivity, and knee extensor muscle strength by magnetic resonance imaging, PREDIM, and dynamometer, respectively, in 1531 elderly people aged 65–84 years living in an urban area of Tokyo. Among the study subjects, 251 (16.4%) had SLI. Impaired insulin sensitivity (High; 1.00 [reference], Medium; 1.53 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94–2.48], Low; 1.86 [1.02–3.39], p for trend 0.047) and reduced muscle strength (High; 1.00 [reference], Medium; 1.40 [0.98–2.02], Low; 1.49 [1.04–2.15], p for trend 0.037) were independently associated with increased risk for SLI in the fully adjusted model. In terms of combined, subjects classified as having the lowest insulin sensitivity and lowest strength were 4.33 times (95% CI 1.64–11.45) more likely to have a SLI than those classified as having the highest insulin sensitivity and highest strength. Impaired insulin sensitivity and reduced muscle strength were independently associated with higher risk of SLI in elderly subjects, and their combination synergistically increased this risk.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a complex of interrelated risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including glucose intolerance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have reported white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in MetS. However, interpretation of DTI metrics is limited primarily due to the challenges of modeling complex WM structures. The present study used fixel-based analysis (FBA) to assess the effect of MetS on the fiber tract-specific WM microstructure in older adults and its relationship with MetS-related measurements and cognitive and locomotor functions to better understand the pathophysiology of MetS. Methods: Fixel-based metrics, including microstructural fiber density (FD), macrostructural fiber-bundle cross-section (FC), and a combination of FD and FC (FDC), were evaluated in 16 healthy controls (no components of MetS; four men; mean age, 71.31 ± 5.06 years), 57 individuals with premetabolic syndrome (preMetS; one or two components of MetS; 29 men; mean age, 72.44 ± 5.82 years), and 46 individuals with MetS (three to five components of MetS; 27 men; mean age, 72.15 ± 4.97 years) using whole-brain exploratory FBA. Tract of interest (TOI) analysis was then performed using TractSeg across 14 selected WM tracts previously associated with MetS. The associations between fixel-based metrics and MetS-related measurements, neuropsychological, and locomotor function tests were also analyzed in individuals with preMetS and MetS combined. In addition, tensor-based metrics (i.e., fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean diffusivity [MD]) were compared among the groups using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis. Results: In whole-brain FBA, individuals with MetS showed significantly lower FD, FC, and FDC compared with healthy controls in WM areas, such as the splenium of the corpus callosum (CC), corticospinal tract (CST), middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP), and superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP). Meanwhile, in fixel-based TOI, significantly reduced FD was observed in individuals with preMetS and MetS in the anterior thalamic radiation, CST, SCP, and splenium of the CC compared with healthy controls, with relatively greater effect sizes observed in individuals with MetS. Compared with healthy controls, significantly reduced FC and FDC were only demonstrated in individuals with MetS, including regions with loss of FD, inferior cerebellar peduncle, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, MCP, and superior longitudinal fasciculus part I. Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between FD and Brinkman index of cigarette consumption cumulative amount and between FC or FDC and the Trail Making Test (parts B–A), which is a measure of executive function, waist circumference, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Finally, TBSS analysis revealed that FA and MD were not significantly different among all groups. Conclusions: The FBA results demonstrate that substantial axonal loss and atrophy in individuals with MetS and early axonal loss without fiber-bundle morphological changes in those with preMetS within the WM tracts are crucial to cognitive and motor function. FBA also clarified the association between executive dysfunction, abdominal obesity, hyper-low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, smoking habit, and compromised WM neural tissue microstructure in MetS.

Abstract Aims/Introduction As a low‐carbohydrate diet and the use of sodium–glucose transporter‐2 inhibitors are both known to increase D‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate levels, the effect of these levels on glucose metabolism has attracted attention. We investigated the acute effects of ketone monoester (KM) ingestion on blood glucose levels during the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in participants with impaired glucose tolerance. Materials and Methods Nine Japanese adults aged 48–62 years (4 men, 5 women) with impaired glucose tolerance participated in this study. After participants fasted overnight, we carried out OGTT for 180 min with and without KM ingestion on two separate days in a randomized cross‐over design. We compared the area under the curve (AUC) of D‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate, glucose, insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon and free fatty acids during OGTT. Results The AUC of D‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate during OGTT was significantly higher with KM than without KM (KM 5995.3 ± 1257.1 mmol/L·h; without KM 116.1 ± 33.9 mmol/L·h, P

Abstract Background Among former Olympic-level athletes, engagement in different sport disciplines has been associated with mortality risk in subsequent years. However, limited evidence is available on whether engagement in different sport disciplines at a young age is associated with locomotive syndrome (LS) risk later in life. This study examined the relationship between engagement in different sport disciplines during university years and LS risk in older age among former university athletes. Methods Participants were 274 middle-aged and 294 older men alumni who graduated from a school of physical education in Japan. LS risk was defined as answering “yes” to any of the Loco-check questions. Data on university sports club membership were collected using questionnaires. University clubs were classified into three groups of cardiovascular intensity (low, moderate, high), following the classification system of sport disciplines by the American College of Cardiology. This classification considers the static and dynamic components of an activity, which correspond to the estimated percent of maximal voluntary contraction reached and maximal oxygen uptake achieved, respectively. University clubs were grouped based on the risk of bodily collision (no, yes) and extent of physical contact (low, moderate, high). Relationships between engagement in different sport disciplines and LS risk were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, and adjusted for age, height, weight, joint disease, habitual exercise, and smoking and drinking status. Results Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with the low, moderate, and high cardiovascular intensity sports were 1.00 (reference), 0.48 (0.22–1.06, P = 0.070), and 0.44 (0.20–0.97, P = 0.042) in older men, respectively; however, there was no significant association between these parameters among middle-aged men. Engagement in sports associated with physical contact and collision did not affect LS risk in either group. Conclusions Engagement in sports associated with high cardiovascular intensity during university years may reduce the risk of LS in later life. Encouraging young people to participate in such activities might help reduce LS prevalence among older populations.

Abstract Aims/Introduction There are few studies to investigate the relationship between macronutrients and longitudinal changes in arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This exploratory study sought to determine whether macronutrients were correlated with increased arterial stiffness independently of conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. Materials and Methods The study participants comprised 733 type 2 diabetes outpatients who had no apparent history of cardiovascular diseases. The dietary schedule was assessed with a validated, brief, self‐administered diet history questionnaire. At baseline and at years 2 and 5, brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity was measured. A multivariable linear mixed‐effects model was used to determine the predictive values of macronutrients and atherosclerotic risk factors for longitudinal changes in brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity. Results There was a significant increase in brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity values over the 5‐year follow‐up period. In a multivariable linear mixed‐effects model that adjusted for age and sex, lower saturated fatty acid intake was significantly correlated with persistently higher brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity, independently of other atherosclerotic risk factors. Lower intake of dairy products in particular showed this correlation. Conclusions Our data showed that lower saturated fatty acids intake was correlated with persistently higher brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity in type 2 diabetes patients. Among food sources of saturated fatty acids, lower dairy products specifically were correlated with elevated brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity. This might be because the consumption of dairy products in Japan is much lower than in Western countries.

Abstract This study aimed to assess (1) blood pressure between young, current athletes, and non‐athletes early in life; (2) hypertension prevalence between former athletes and the general population later in life; and (3) understand the mechanisms between exercise training and hypertension risks in the form of DNA methylation. Study 1: A total of 354 young male participants, including current athletes, underwent blood pressure assessment. Study 2: The prevalence of hypertension in 1269 male former athletes was compared with that in the Japanese general population. Current and former athletes were divided into three groups: endurance‐, mixed‐, and sprint/power‐group. Study 3: We analyzed the effect of aerobic‐ or resistance‐training on DNA methylation patterns using publicly available datasets to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. In young, current athletes, the mixed‐ and sprint/power‐group exhibited higher systolic blood pressure, and all groups exhibited higher pulse pressure than non‐athletes. In contrast, the prevalence of hypertension in former athletes was significantly lower in all groups than in the general population. Compared to endurance‐group (reference), adjusted‐hazard ratios for the incidence of hypertension among mixed‐ and sprint/power‐group were 1.24 (0.87–1.84) and 1.50 (1.04–2.23), respectively. Moreover, aerobic‐ and resistance‐training commonly modified over 3000 DNA methylation sites in skeletal muscle, and these were suggested to be associated with cardiovascular function‐related pathways. These findings suggest that the high blood pressure induced by exercise training at a young age does not influence the development of future hypertension. Furthermore, previous exercise training experiences at a young age could decrease the risk of future hypertension.

Abstract Background Physical fitness and motor ability are associated with the incidence of locomotive syndrome (LS) in older adults. The relationships between physical fitness and motor ability at a young age to LS risk in later life remain unclear. This study examined the association between physical fitness and motor ability among university students and their risk of LS in middle and old age. Methods The participants were 231 male alumni aged 48–65 years from the Department of Physical Education of a university in Japan. Physical fitness and motor ability test results during their fourth year at the university were used. Physical fitness tests included the side-step test, vertical jump test, back muscle, grip strength, trunk lift, standing trunk flexion, and step-test. Motor ability was tested using the 50-m and 1500-m run, running long jump, hand-ball throw, and pull-up test. LS risk was assessed using a seven-question standardized self-administered Loco-check questionnaire. Participants were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high) based on physical fitness and motor ability test results at young age, and LS risk was assessed at an older age across the three groups using Cox proportional hazards models. Results From the 2017 follow-up survey, the median follow-up period was 37 years (interquartile range, 33–41), and LS risk was suspected for 31 (13.4%) participants. Better performance on the side-step test was associated with the reduced risk of LS (hazard ratio 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.101–0.983, P = 0.047). Conclusions Good agility (side-step test) at a young age may reduce the future risk of LS among middle-aged and older men.

Abstract Elevated 1‐h plasma glucose (1h‐PG; ≥155 mg/dL) during an oral glucose tolerance test is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, the metabolic characteristics of non‐obese Asians with elevated 1h‐PG are unknown. Thus, we studied 59 non‐obese Japanese men with normal glucose tolerance. We divided study participants into the Low 1h‐PG group (

Abstract Individuals with a monophasic glucose response curve (GRC) during a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes than those with a biphasic GRC. However, no studies have addressed the association between GRC type and insulin clearance. Thus, we studied 49 healthy non‐obese Japanese men. We divided study participants into the monophasic or biphasic group based on the shape of their GRC. We evaluated tissue‐specific insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance using a two‐step hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp. The monophasic group had more visceral fat, lower insulin clearance and lower muscle insulin sensitivity than the biphasic group, whereas liver and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion were comparable. In conclusion, healthy non‐obese men with a monophasic GRC have lower insulin clearance and muscle insulin sensitivity.

Background/Objective: Sport university students are a unique population because they usually have a strong sport background since early childhood. In this study, we aimed to examine secular trends in grip strength of male, first-year sport university students in comparison with the general population between 1973 and 2016. Methods: Existing data on the grip strength of 6,308 sport university students aged 18 years were examined. The data were obtained from the Juntendo Fitness Plus Study, a study of the Department of Physical Education/Health and Sports Science of Juntendo University. For reference, age- and sex-matched data (18 years old, male) on the grip strength were obtained from a national database. Results: Compared with the general population, the sport university students had greater body mass index and stronger grip strength at all times. Conclusions: The grip strength of sport university students significantly declined between the 1980s and 1990s, and it has plateaued since 2000, albeit at low levels. Compared with the peak performance of sport university students in 1984, the grip strength of students in 2016 was significantly lower by 8.1 kg. The downward trends were also confirmed in the general population during the same periods. In conclusion, the grip strength of sport university students has significantly declined over the last few decades. Keywords: Body size, College student, Japanese, Muscular fitness, Temporal changes, Young people

Background: Decreased insulin clearance could be a relatively upstream abnormality in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Previous studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) increases insulin–C-peptide ratio, a marker of insulin clearance, and improves metabolic parameters. We evaluated the effects of the SGLT2i tofogliflozin on metabolic clearance rate of insulin (MCRI) with a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study, the gold standard for measuring systemic insulin clearance. Methods: Study participants were 12 Japanese men with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated MCRI and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity with a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (insulin infusion rate, 40 mU/m2·min) before and immediately after a single dose (n = 12) and 8 weeks (n = 9) of tofogliflozin. We also measured ectopic fat in muscle and liver and the abdominal fat area using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively, before and after 8 weeks of tofogliflozin. Results: MCRI did not change after a single dose of tofogliflozin (594.7 ± 67.7 mL/min·m2 and 608.3 ± 90.9 mL/min·m2, p = 0.61) or after 8 weeks (582.5 ± 67.3 mL/min·m2 and 602.3 ± 67.0 mL/min·m2, p = 0.41). The 8-week treatment significantly improved glycated hemoglobin and decreased body weight (1.7%) and the subcutaneous fat area (6.4%), whereas insulin sensitivity and ectopic fat in muscle and liver did not change significantly. Conclusions: MCRI did not change after a single dose or 8 weeks of tofogliflozin. Increased MCRI does not precede a decrease in body fat or improved glycemic control.

Muscle strengthening activity and high muscle strength were reported to protect against the development of type 2 diabetes in middle age. On the other hand, the reported prevalence of type 2 diabetes is higher in former top-level power sports athletes compared to healthy non-athlete men. High muscle strength may be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, it is not clear whether high muscle strength can predict the future development of type 2 diabetes. This study examined the relationship between muscle strength at a young age and the future development of type 2 diabetes in former Japanese college athletes by a historical cohort study. Subjects were male alumni who graduated from the Physical Education School of Juntendo University. Hand-grip strength at college age (1971-1991) and type 2 diabetes history, as determined by follow-up questionnaires (2007-2009, and 2011), were collected. Relationships between hand-grip strength and new cases of type 2 diabetes were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models and adjusted for relative risks. Data of hand-grip strength and medical history of 617 subjects were collected. The median follow-up period was 27 years, and 29 men developed type 2 diabetes. There was no relationship between incidence of type 2 diabetes and muscle strength level after adjustment for potential risk factors. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals of the low, medium, and high muscle strength categories were 1.00 (reference), 1.12 (0.46-2.70) and 0.70 (0.25-1.92), respectively. We concluded that muscle strength at a young age does not predict the future development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese male athletes.

Purpose The proportion of elderly individuals (age ≥65 years) in Japan reached 27.7% in 2017, the highest in the world. A serious social problem in a super-aged society is the rise in the number of elderly people who need long-term care (LTC), which is mainly due to cerebrovascular disease, dementia, age-related frailty, falls and fractures, and joint disease. We hypothesised that decreased muscle mass, muscle strength and insulin sensitivity are the common risk factors for these diseases related to needing LTC. We developed a prospective cohort study of elderly subjects in an urban community to test this hypothesis. The primary objective is to prospectively investigate associations between muscle mass, muscle strength, and insulin sensitivity and incidence of main disease and risk factors of needing LTC. The primary outcomes are the incidence of cerebrovascular disease and cognitive decline.Participants Participants were 1629 people aged 65–84 years living in 13 communities in an urban area (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan). Average age was 73.1±5.4 years.Findings to date We obtained baseline data on cognitive function, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) determined by brain MRI, body composition, bone mineral density, arteriosclerosis, physical function, muscle mass, muscle strength and insulin sensitivity. Mild cognitive impairment and dementia were observed in 18.1% and 3.3% of participants, respectively. The prevalence of cerebral SVD was 24.8%. These characteristics are similar to those previously reported in elderly Japanese subjects.Future plans We will ask participants about their health status, including incidence of cerebrovascular disease, falls, fractures and other diseases every year by mail. We plan to re-evaluate cognitive function, brain MRI parameters and other parameters at 5 and 10 years after the baseline evaluation. We will evaluate whether low muscle function (muscle mass, muscle strength or insulin sensitivity) is a risk factor for cognitive decline or cerebrovascular disease.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

BACKGROUND:There is a high incidence of type 2 diabetes in Asian adults, even those with a normal body mass index (BMI) (23 kg/m2) at middle age is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Asians. In this historical cohort study, we investigated whether a slightly increased BMI at college age was also a risk factor for future diabetes in Japanese men. METHODS:Six hundred and sixty-one male alumni who graduated from a physical education school between 1971 and 1991 and who responded to follow-up investigation between 2007 and 2017 were included in this study. Participants were categorized into four categories: college BMI of

Hypertension is developed easily in Asian adults with normal body mass index (BMI) (~23 kg/m2), compared with other ethnicities with similar BMI. This study tested the hypothesis that slightly increased BMI at young age is a risk factor for future hypertension in Japanese men by historical cohort study.The study participants were 636 male alumni of the physical education school. They had available data on their physical examination at college age and follow-up investigation between 2007 and 2011. The participants were categorized into six categories: BMI at college age of

INTRODUCTION:While individuals tend to show accumulation of certain lifestyle patterns, the effect of such patterns in real daily life on cardio-renal-metabolic parameters remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess clustering of lifestyle patterns and investigate the relationships between such patterns and cardio-renal-metabolic parameters. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:The study participants were 726 Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients free of history of cardiovascular diseases. The relationship between lifestyle patterns and cardio-renal-metabolic parameters was investigated by linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS:Factor analysis identified three lifestyle patterns. Subjects characterized by evening type, poor sleep quality and depressive status (type 1 pattern) had high levels of HbA1c, alanine aminotransferase and albuminuria. Subjects characterized by high consumption of food, alcohol and cigarettes (type 2 pattern) had high levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Subjects characterized by high physical activity (type 3 pattern) had low uric acid and mild elevation of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In multivariate regression analysis adjusted by age, gender and BMI, type 1 pattern was associated with higher HbA1c levels, systolic BP and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Type 2 pattern was associated with higher HDL-cholesterol levels, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, ɤ- glutamyl transpeptidase levels, and diastolic BP. CONCLUSIONS:The study identified three lifestyle patterns that were associated with distinct cardio-metabolic-renal parameters in T2DM patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION:UMIN000010932.

The molecular clock of neutral mutations, which represents linear mutation fixation over generations, is theoretically explained by genetic drift in fitness-steady evolution or hitchhiking in adaptive evolution. The present study is the first experimental demonstration for the molecular clock of neutral mutations in a fitness-increasing evolutionary process. The dynamics of genome mutation fixation in the thermal adaptive evolution of Escherichia coli were evaluated in a prolonged evolution experiment in duplicated lineages. The cells from the continuously fitness-increasing evolutionary process were subjected to genome sequencing and analyzed at both the population and single-colony levels. Although the dynamics of genome mutation fixation were complicated by the combination of the stochastic appearance of adaptive mutations and clonal interference, the mutation fixation in the population was simply linear over generations. Each genome in the population accumulated 1.6 synonymous and 3.1 non-synonymous neutral mutations, on average, by the spontaneous mutation accumulation rate, while only a single genome in the population occasionally acquired an adaptive mutation. The neutral mutations that preexisted on the single genome hitchhiked on the domination of the adaptive mutation. The successive fixation processes of the 128 mutations demonstrated that hitchhiking and not genetic drift were responsible for the coincidence of the spontaneous mutation accumulation rate in the genome with the fixation rate of neutral mutations in the population. The molecular clock of neutral mutations to the fitness-increasing evolution suggests that the numerous neutral mutations observed in molecular phylogenetic trees may not always have been fixed in fitness-steady evolution but in adaptive evolution.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of colored lenses on the visual performance of middle-aged people. The subjects were 19 middle-aged people with a mean age of 57.4 ±6.0 years. Five different functional lenses were used in the experiments: colorless lenses and four colored lenses (Light-yellow, Dark-yellow, Light-gray, and Dark-gray). Using each lens type, contrast sensitivity, depth perception, hand–eye coordination, dynamic visual acuity, and visual acuity/low-contrast visual acuity were measured. Visual acuity/low-contrast visual acuity was measured under the four conditions of Evening, Evening + Glare, Day, and Day + Glare. Results showed that dynamic visual acuity and depth perception did not differ among the lens types, but hand–eye coordination measurements had a significantly shorter time with the Light-yellow and Dark-yellow lenses than the Dark-gray lenses. Low-contrast visual acuity under Evening and Evening + Glare conditions tended to be lower with the Dark lenses than the Colorless and Light-yellow lenses. The subjects rated the Yellow lenses as bright in a subjective questionnaire evaluation.

Introduction: Exercise is beneficial for increasing areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adolescence and maintaining it in old age. Moreover, high-impact sports are more effective than low-impact sports in increasing aBMD. This study aimed to determine the types of adolescent sports played in school-based sports clubs associated with aBMD in old age. Methods: In total, 1,596 older adults (681 men and 915 women, age: 65-84 years) living in an urban area of Japan were evaluated for the femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between adolescent sports played in sports clubs and aBMD in old age was analyzed using multiple regression analysis, with femoral neck and lumbar spine aBMD as dependent variables, and sports type and participant characteristics such as age, body weight, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, as independent variables. Results: For the femoral neck, basketball was associated with aBMD in older men (ß = 0.079, p < 0.05) and women (ß = 0.08, p < 0.01), whereas current body weight and 25(OH)D level were associated with aBMD in both sexes. For the lumbar spine, volleyball (ß = 0.08, p < 0.01) and swimming (ß = 0.06, p < 0.05) was significantly associated with lumbar spine aBMD, whereas current body weight, 25(OH)D, and diabetes mellitus were associated with aBMD in older women. Conclusion: Both men and women who played basketball in adolescence had higher femoral neck aBMD in old age. Moreover, women who played volleyball in adolescence had higher lumbar spine aBMD in old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the athletic experiences of former collegiate Japanese athletes and compared their competitive results and current exercise habits. A questionnaire survey was completed by physical education or health and sports science students via mail. We sent the survey to 9,507 people; 2,141 questionnaires were returned, accounting for a recovery rate of 22.5%. We collected data on the current level of physical activity, history of sports experiences, and type of athletic competitions participated in from childhood until adulthood. An analysis was conducted on 1,999 participants. The results suggested that Japanese collegiate athletes had continued the same sport since elementary school. Conversely, several recent athletes had multiple-sport experiences and had started sports from an early age. There were no differences in athletic history and athletic performance between some age groups. We believe that having experience in a variety of sports has no adverse effect on athletic performance or exercise habits. In conclusion, compared to the past, the number of collegiate athletes with multiple experiences has increased. However, their experience differed from multiple-sport environments observed outside Japan. It is necessary to reconsider the sports environment of Japanese children in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]